Handover of TNI BAIS Chief's Position Stakes Military Legitimacy

The handover of the position of Head of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS TNI) from Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo to TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto on Wednesday (25/3) is seen not merely as a routine administrative rotation. This abrupt step serves as a strong signal of internal military upheaval following suspicions of involvement by four BAIS personnel in the acid attack case against Kontras activist Andrie Yunus.

Political and military analyst from Universitas Nasional (Unas), Selamat Ginting, assesses this incident as a serious test for the TNI, both in terms of internal discipline and institutional legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Moreover, this case involves intelligence elements that should operate in silence.

“When actors from this ‘silent’ domain instead emerge in a blatant violence case in the public sphere, what is at stake is not just individuals, but the credibility of the system,” Selamat stated on Thursday (26/3).

The decision to hand over the BAIS command directly to the TNI Commander reflects a crisis management pattern for rapid stabilisation. In the military structure, violations in a strategic unit like BAIS have the potential to disrupt the chain of command and information security.

This takeover also indicates two crucial aspects. First, the case is viewed as highly serious, necessitating handling at the highest level, and efforts at ‘organisational sterilisation’ to prevent internal friction that could hinder the legal process.

This step is also seen as a pragmatic effort by President Prabowo Subianto, who has instructed TNI Headquarters to thoroughly investigate the case. “If not handled quickly and transparently, this case has the potential to develop into a crisis of trust in the TNI,” he said.

Dispelling Impunity

The involvement of intelligence personnel in violent actions against civilians raises concerns about mission creep or a shift in function from strategic analysis to illegal operational actions. Selamat assesses that this deviation must be fully corrected to avoid damaging military professionalism.

“If not corrected firmly, this could damage military professionalism and blur the boundaries between state operations and criminal acts,” he explained.

Now, attention is focused on the military court. The transparency of the legal process against the four suspected perpetrators, namely Captain NDP, First Lieutenant SL, First Lieutenant BHW, and Sergeant ES, will determine whether the stigma of impunity within the military can be eliminated or strengthened.

Previously, TNI Information Centre Head Major General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah confirmed the position handover as a form of institutional accountability.

“So we need to state here that as a form of accountability, today the handover of the BAIS Head position has been carried out,” Aulia said during a press conference at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday (25/3). (Ant/P-2)