Indonesian Military Ready to Implement Human Rights Certification for Promotions
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the TNI Public Information Centre, Major General Muhammad Nas, has ensured that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) is prepared to implement human rights (HAM) certification regulations as a prerequisite for soldiers seeking promotion.
“If that is determined, then we are ready. There is no problem,” said Nas when met at the TNI Fair 2026 event at Silang Monas, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.
According to Nas, all TNI personnel have received human rights training during their education at various levels. “In our institution, human rights briefing is already provided. In fact, human rights and humanitarian law are integrated into a single package,” he explained.
He added that this is evident from the many soldiers and officers who carry out their duties to protect the public in accordance with human rights provisions. However, Nas noted that the regulation is still under discussion and has not yet been finalised. He ensured that TNI Headquarters will follow the regulation once it is officially formalised.
Previously, the Minister of Human Rights, Nataliella Pigai, has been working towards regulatory changes so that possessing a Human Rights Certificate becomes a mandatory requirement for promotions for civil servants, as well as officers within the TNI and the National Police (Polri).
Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, Pigai stated that this policy is being prepared as a preventive measure to reduce the potential for human rights violations involving state apparatus. He believes that human rights understanding, proven through certification, must become part of the career development requirements for government officials and security personnel.
“Echelon 2 employees, heads of bureaus, and echelon 1 officials must possess a Human Rights Certificate; it will be a mandatory requirement. I will request that the Civil Servant (ASN) Law be amended to include a specific article stating that for an echelon 2 official to be appointed to echelon 1, one of the requirements is to attach a Human Rights Certificate,” said Pigai.
He explained that the implementation of certification will also be directed towards leadership levels within the TNI and Polri institutions. The Ministry of Human Rights will encourage the drafting of regulations at the level of National Police Regulations and TNI Commander Regulations to govern human rights certificates within the systems of mutation, promotion, and demotion.
“For example, a sub-district military commander (Danramil) or a sub-district police chief (Kapolsek) will be given a certificate. If that Kapolsek wishes to be promoted to a district police chief (Kapolres) or a district military commander (Dandim), we will provide a certificate. From Dandim to regional military commander (Pangdam), and from Pangdam to TNI Commander or National Police Chief, a certificate is required,” he said.
According to Pigai, the certification requirement must have a strong legal basis to be applied within the personnel and career advancement systems. He stated that the legal foundation regarding this authority is being prepared through the Human Rights Law, which is currently processing in the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).
“Furthermore, the Presidential Regulation that serves as part of the policy foundation is currently with the State Secretariat,” said Pigai.
Pigai believes that implementing human rights certification in the promotion and mutation system can strengthen the apparatus’s understanding of human rights principles while serving as an instrument for preventing violations. “If all these regulations are issued, I am confident we will achieve a better achievement, which is minimising crimes or human rights violations throughout the Republic of Indonesia,” the Minister of Human Rights concluded.