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Indonesian military must keep country united, says Jokowi

Jakarta Globe - November 10, 2016

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Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo led a simple ceremony to commemorate National Heroes Day at the Indonesian Special Forces headquarters in East Jakarta on Thursday (10/11).

In a brief five-minute speech, Jokowi called on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to keep to the country's motto of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika," or Unity in Diversity.

"As your commander-in-chief, I urge the TNI to embrace diversity. Help keep us united as a nation," Jokowi said, stressing that the military should remain impartial and put the nation's interests above everything else.

"Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is an important principle for our diverse country. We have so many races, religions and tribes, we've got to keep all of them united," the president said.

Jokowi also said the military should always prepare themselves to be deployed anywhere and in any condition. The TNI should hold fast to the national ideology, Pancasila, stick to its main task of defending the country and stay loyal to the 1945 Constitution, the president added.

Several senior state officials also attended the ceremony, including TNI Chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo, State Secretariat Minister Pratikno, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mulyono, Jakarta Military Chief Maj. Gen. Teddy Lhaksmana and Jakarta Police Chief Gen. Insp. Mochamad Iriawan.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesian-military-must-keep-country-united-says-jokowi/.