Civil Coalition Highlights Traces of Human Rights and Andika Perkasa's 179 Billion IDR of Assets

CNN Indonesia | Thursday, 04/11/2021 19:29 WIB

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia — A number of NGOs who are members of the Civil Society Coalition have criticized President Joko Widodo's decision to propose Staff General Andika Perkasa as the sole candidate for the Indonesian Military Commander. The coalition considers the appointment to be problematic, because Andika has a black record of human rights violations.
Imparsial, who is a member of the coalition, said that Andika's name had been linked in the 2001 murder of Papuan leader Theys Hiyo Eluay.

"Reports linking Andika Perkasa's name in the murder case of Papuan leader Theys Hiyo Eluay must be taken seriously," said Imparsial researcher Hussein Ahmad in a written statement, Wednesday (3/11).

According to Hussein, Jokowi should seek comprehensive information on all candidates by involving credible institutions, in order to strengthen the president's considerations in making the right decisions.

He considered that Andika's submission as the sole candidate for the Commander, showed that the president did not have a commitment to upholding human rights seriously as his political commitment.

On that occasion, Hussein also urged The National Human Rights Committee (Komnas HAM) to immediately examine Andika Perkasa's alleged role in the murder of Theys Eluay in November 2001.

Not only that, the coalition also highlighted Andika's wealth report which reached 179.9 billion IDR. According to the coalition, this must be explained clearly, so it is important to conduct an audit of Andika Perkasa's assets by the Corruption Eradication Committee (KPK).

"Moreover, General Andika Perkasa is said to have never reported his state wealth administration report before even though the capacity in question is a high state official," he said.

Therefore, the coalition urges the Indonesian Board of Representatives (DPR RI) to seriously examine the commitment of the candidate for military commander to democracy, human rights, eradicating corruption and others. In particular, the alleged connection between the Staff Chief, General Andika Perkasa, in the murder of Theys Hiyo Eluay and the ownership of this fantastic amount of property.

The Coalition also requests that the DPR RI in testing and assessing the candidate for the military commander must involve and ask for public opinion, independent state institutions and/or credible experts in testing the future commander in chief, for example by involving (Komnas HAM) and the KPK as well as community institutions. other civilians.

Previously, Jokowi appointed Andika as a candidate for the Commander to replace the Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto who will occupy the position of Chief of Presidential Staff (KSP) after retiring or retiring at the end of November 2021.

Jokowi wrote to the DPR asking for approval of the proposal.

CNNIndonesia.com contacted Andika Perkasa and Indonesian National Army Information Center Chairman Praantara to clarify the Civil Coalition's statement but both have not responded until this news is broadcast.

(dmi/wis)