Two TNI Generals Swap Roles

President Prabowo Subianto has swapped the posts of two generals in his administration: Maruli Simanjuntak is now Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), while Tandyo Budi Revita has become Army Chief of Staff (KSAD).

The two were sworn in at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 15 October 2026. Maruli has also been assigned by Prabowo to lead the National Agency for the Management of Border and Remote Areas (BNPPDT).

The inauguration began with the reading of the presidential decree. Prabowo then led the two officials in taking their oaths of office.

“I will remain faithful to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia and implement all laws and regulations as faithfully as possible in the service of the nation and state. In carrying out my official duties, I will uphold the ethics of office and perform to the best of my ability with a full sense of responsibility,” Prabowo said, with the appointed officials repeating the oath.

Maruli said Prabowo had instructed him to lead the BNPPDT, which will focus on improving the economic conditions of people in border and remote areas.

He said a border-management agency already existed and had been temporarily led by the home affairs minister. It is now being expanded to include the management of remote areas.

“I think this is an excellent idea. The agency already existed as a border-management body, and it is currently being led on an interim basis by the Home Affairs Minister. It is being developed further because, over the past few years, I have done a great deal of work to improve the economy of people in remote areas,” Maruli said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Thursday, 15 October 2026.

Maruli said Prabowo wants the government to focus more closely on improving the welfare of people living in border and remote areas. As Deputy Commander of the TNI, he will also assist TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto.

“That may be the President’s idea: to focus more on people in border and remote areas. The agency will be developed from the National Border Management Agency into one responsible for managing borders and remote areas, and that will be my task. As Deputy Commander, my role is clear: to assist the Commander,” Maruli said.

Maruli stressed that managing the BNPPDT would not be solely a TNI responsibility. The agency, he said, is a separate institution that will co-ordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to improve people’s welfare in border and remote areas.

“Actually, this is not a task for the TNI alone. The agency and its organisation already exist. With the addition of remote-area management to its border responsibilities, why not also improve the local economy? We do not necessarily need to provide the funding ourselves; we can help co-ordinate with the Ministry of Villages and other ministries that can improve people’s lives in the regions,” Maruli said.

Maruli also said he may involve TNI personnel stationed in the areas concerned. He said the presence of troops from the three TNI services could support co-ordination on the ground.

“We will see what is available in those areas. There are territorial development battalions, or Yon TP, that we can make use of. The Air Force may also have personnel there, and the Navy is often present in coastal areas. In my position as Deputy Commander, I can help co-ordinate with them,” he added.

Tandyo said that, as Army Chief of Staff, he had been tasked with accelerating government programmes, including village cooperatives, People’s Schools and food security initiatives.

“These will certainly be tasks for the Army: to speed up their implementation, whether that is KDKMP, People’s Schools or food security. We will promptly deliver on the President’s directives,” he said.

Tandyo also discussed efforts to tackle forest and land fires. With Army troops deployed across Indonesia, he said he would mobilise the service’s capabilities to help extinguish fires.

“The Army has the widest distribution of personnel. We will do as much as we can to help speed up firefighting, particularly in peatland areas,” Tandyo said.

Another of Prabowo’s directives, Tandyo said, concerns Papua. He said the Army’s priorities there include public welfare, while local security disturbances would also remain a focus.

“I believe Papua is one of the priorities in the President’s programme. That includes both welfare and security disturbances,” he said.

Tandyo cited operations against the armed criminal group (KKB) in Maybrat, Southwest Papua, as an example. He said the TNI’s efforts aim to persuade Papuans considering rebellion against the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) to return to the fold.

“Over the past two or three days, there have been developments in Maybrat, which was quite tense two or three years ago. If you have been following the situation, some people came down and some were arrested two days ago. This will serve as a deterrent to our brothers and sisters who have yet to come to their senses, so they can return to the Republic of Indonesia,” he added.