Former BAIS Head Links New TNI Retirement Rules to Acid Attack Incident

Former Head of the Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Soleman Ponto, stated that the provisions in the revision of the TNI Law, namely Law No. 3 of 2025 Article 53 on the Age Limit for TNI Personnel, were one of the triggers for the acid attack that befell activist Andrie Yunus. Ponto initially explained the connection between stalled career progression within the military and the indiscipline of personnel, starting from how superiors develop their intelligence officers. “The question is, how to develop these intelligence officers so that they are obedient and loyal to their superiors? Simple. They must be trained,” he said during the Intelligence Seminar at the IASTH Building, University of Indonesia Salemba, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/4). Ponto then revealed that the impact of the changes to the retirement age rules for senior officers was what caused generals to occupy their positions much longer. This condition creates an effect that leaves colonels and first officers (Pama) without hope for promotion, thus making them frustrated and disobedient to their superiors. “There it is, I said that, why did the acid throwing happen? Well, why? I said, that’s one consequence of the TNI Law that changes one-star to 60. Two-star, 61. Three-star, 62. When for Colonel? Retired at 58,” explained Ponto. “Now, look at the position of the Colonel, look, ‘Wow, the generals are sitting and forgetting to stand. Then when do I get there?’ When he’s daydreaming, the Pama are also confused. Finally, the Pama, ‘What are we doing?’ Ah, let’s just take an acid bath,” he continued. Article 53 paragraph (2) of Law No. 3 of 2025 states that the retirement age limit for personnel as referred to in paragraph (1) is regulated as follows: a. non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel up to 55 (fifty-five) years; b. officers up to the rank of colonel up to 58 (fifty-eight) years; c. senior officers one-star up to 60 (sixty) years; d. senior officers two-star up to 61 (sixty-one) years; and e. senior officers three-star up to 62 (sixty-two) years. Before the revision or based on the old rules in Law No. 34 of 2004, the retirement age limit for all levels of officers, whether colonels or one- to four-star generals, was uniformly set at 58 years. In his presentation, to prevent that frustration, Ponto emphasised the importance of a personal approach from direct superiors. “Why is that? Because they can’t maintain it. We must be able to maintain this, guidance, how to be patient. How we build trust,” he said. In their development, said Ponto, it must be done face-to-face and personally one by one so that superiors truly recognise the character and problems of each individual. “This is handling, training. This is the handler’s job who meets face-to-face every day. If they meet person by person, then from one person’s head to another person’s head, then upwards, and so on. Thus, synergy for obedience is created,” stated Ponto. Furthermore, Ponto gave advice that if one wants to make subordinates obedient and disciplined, a superior cannot just shout orders from afar. “So here, how to make them obedient? Person by person. One by one. So we can’t, ‘Hey, you there!’ Can’t. Person by person. We must know each one’s character,” he said.