TNI Chief of Territorial Staff Position Reinstated; DPR Commission I Confident It Is Not for ABRI Dual Function

TNI Commander-in-Chief General Agus Subiyanto has reintroduced the position of Chief of Territorial Staff (Kaster) TNI, now held by Lieutenant General (Letjen) Bambang Trisnohadi. Deputy Chair of Commission I DPR RI Dave Laksono has expressed confidence that the reinstatement of this position will not lead to the reactivation of ABRI dual function.

“The TNI Commander-in-Chief’s decision to reinstate the position of Chief of Territorial Staff (Kaster) should be understood as part of an organisational development process that adapts to contemporary dynamics. The TNI is an institution required to always be prepared to face new challenges, so structural reorganisation sometimes becomes necessary. Nevertheless, this step should not be interpreted as a return to ABRI dual function practices,” Dave told journalists on Friday (13/3/2026).

This Golkar politician assessed that the Kaster TNI position has current urgency. According to him, the position plays an important role in strengthening territorial coordination to address increasingly complex security challenges.

“The presence of this position is expected to enhance preparedness, strengthen regional development, and ensure more structured support for TNI’s primary duties. With Kaster in place, communication channels and synergy between territorial commands and the centre can function more effectively, making the TNI organisation increasingly adaptive and responsive to national dynamics,” he said.

Dave stated that the position serves as an instrument to ensure more solid governance. “The authority held remains within the scope of primary duties, so the focus is on strengthening internal coordination and improving organisational work effectiveness. With clear limitations, this position actually becomes an instrument for ensuring more orderly and solid governance,” he explained.

Commission I DPR RI, Dave continued, views the structural strengthening as a positive step in TNI modernisation. He expressed optimism that the reorganisation will strengthen preparedness and maintain public confidence in the defence institution.

“Oversight will continue to be exercised to ensure that every policy runs transparently and accountably, so that TNI becomes increasingly strong as the front-line guard that is professional and trusted by the people,” he said.

It is known that TNI Commander-in-Chief General Agus Subiyanto appointed Letjen Bambang Trisnohadi as Kaster TNI. The Kaster TNI position has reappeared after being abolished during the administration of Indonesia’s fourth President, Abdurrahman Wahid, commonly known as Gus Dur.

In a transfer letter viewed on Wednesday (11/3), Lieutenant General Bambang Trisnohadi was appointed as Kaster TNI. Letjen Bambang previously served as Commander of Kogabwilhan III.

The Kogabwilhan III position is now held by Major General Lucky Avianto, who previously served as Commander of Kodam XXIV/Mandala Trikora.

The Kaster TNI position was previously abolished during the administration of Indonesia’s fourth President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur).

As cited from the 2003 Human Rights Report published by the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (Elsam), the position was originally named Chief of Socio-Political Affairs (Kasospol) TNI. However, over time, the position’s name changed to Chief of Territorial Staff (Kaster) TNI. The position performed TNI’s role in the socio-political field.

This position was previously held by Agus Widjojo through Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). During the reform era, Gus Dur undertook a reform process of the TNI institution. One of these measures involved abolishing the Kaster TNI position in 2001.