Hendropriyono Defends Lt Col Teddy, Urges Senior Figures to Set an Example in Language
Former Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Retired General TNI AM Hendropriyono has responded to the viral statement by Amien Rais regarding Lt Col Teddy. He urged senior figures to provide an example in language.
“We all, including the senior figures of this nation, I and my elderly peers, have a moral responsibility to set an example in language and behaviour in the public sphere,” said Hendropriyono in a video received by detikcom on Tuesday (5/5/2026).
He stated that Lt Col Teddy is not a free political figure, so assessments of him must be carried out proportionally and professionally, not emotionally.
“The quality of a statesman is not measured by the harshness of words, but rather by the ability to uphold the dignity of others even when views differ,” said Hendropriyono.
He understands that Lt Col Teddy cannot respond to that statement. Therefore, he explained, the public must ensure that criticism does not turn into injustice.
“Our nation is great because of its manners. If we maintain our manners, differences will not divide us. But if manners slip away from us, truth will lose its meaning,” he continued.
Hendropriyono added that the Indonesian people have moral values from the nation’s founders. He mentioned that the Indonesian nation is based on kinship.
“So we must not kill the character of our own children,” he concluded.
It is known that Amien Rais’s statement appeared in a video uploaded to Amien Rais’s personal YouTube channel. In the video, Amien Rais alluded to the closeness between President Prabowo Subianto and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The video then garnered various responses from the public before it was no longer accessible to the public. Minister of Communication and Digitalisation Meutya Hafid stated that the video uploaded by Amien Rais constituted character assassination and slander.
Amien Rais then responded to Meutya Hafid. Amien Rais said that freedom of opinion is regulated by law.
“Yes, so that’s how it is. First, I am certainly convinced that democracy runs well if the freedom to express opinions guaranteed by our Constitution is not restricted or suppressed,” said Amien when met after the National Congress of the Ummat Party in Sleman, as reported by detikJogja, Sunday (3/5).
According to him, Indonesia is a democratic country, so every individual is free to express opinions. Even if, said Amien Rais, it contradicts the authorities and other groups of the people.
“Well, then, in a democratic country, people are allowed to express opinions. Contradicting the official authorities, contradicting other groups of the people and so on. But what is the point of conflict, the point of difference, is that it concerns the fate of the nation,” he said.