Indoleft | President Widodo will not apologise to PKI, abolish TNI territorial commands

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President Widodo will not apologise to PKI, abolish TNI territorial commands

Liputan 6 - June 27, 2016

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Silvanus Alvin, Jakarta – President Joko Widodo or Jokowi attended a fast breaking event with TNI (Indonesian military) officers at the TNI's headquarters in Cilangkap, Jakarta, where he took the opportunity to reaffirm that he will not apologies to former members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

"Regarding the apology to the PKI. Last year I conveyed [my views] already, there's no issue, no gossip. There's absolutely no plan or idea of my apologising to the PKI", asserted Jokowi on Monday June 27.

Jokowi related how he had already expressed a similar view last year. This was also conveyed when he met with representatives of the central leadership boards of the Islamic social organisations Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama along with other national figures.

"Particularly when [commemorating] Sanctity of Pancasila [Day] at the Crocodile Hole [monument] last year, I conveyed this. But there are those who are manipulating it so the issue has resurfaced. Don't listen to them, [I] won't be apologising to the PKI", said Jokowi.

Jokowi also set straight another thorny issue, that he plans to abolish the TNI's territorial command units. According to Jokowi, the existence of these units are still necessary for the early detection of threats to the country.

"I need to clarify that I am convinced that the territorial units will remain and it is extremely important to maintain their existence for early detection of threats to our country", Jokowi asserted.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Di Mabes TNI, Jokowi Tegaskan Tak Akan Minta Maaf ke Eks PKI.]

Notes

The TNI's territorial command structure mandates the deployment of military command posts and detachments at all levels of the civil administration: provincial, district, sub- district and village. This structure provides the organisational framework for the TNI to act as a political security force at all levels of society.

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2541310/di-mabes-tni-jokowi-tegaskan-tak-akan-minta-maaf-ke-eks-pki.

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