Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
President Joko Widodo will give Mahaputera Star Award to former TNI Commander General (Ret.) Gatot Nurmantyo to coincide with the commemoration of Heroes’ Day on 10 November.
Bintang Mahaputera itself is a token of service for Indonesian citizens who are considered to have participated in building the country. This award is usually given by the state to citizens who have retired as ministers or heads of institutions.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said that the gift of Bintang Mahaputera to Gatot was awry.
Gatot is the first TNI commander appointed by Jokowi since taking office in 2014. He has also frequently had arguments with the government since he was no longer the TNI commander.
According to Mahfud, the gift would be seen as an attempt to silence Gatot, who is often critical of the government. However, if it is not given, it will be considered discrimination because in fact the Mahaputera Star is Gatot’s right.
“The government knows that giving or not giving Bintang Mahaputera to Pak Gatot Nurmantyo (GN) must be someone who has questions,” Mahfud was quoted as saying. CNNIndonesia.com via his Twitter account, Tuesday (3/11).
“If it is given it is said to be silent, if it is not said to be discriminatory against the critical. But Bintang Mahaputra is Pak GN’s right as well as Mrs. Susi Pujiastuti’s, etc.,” he said.
Gatot recently joined the Coalition for Action to Save Indonesia (WE), a forum for activists who are critical of Joko Widodo’s government.
However, Gatot’s track record during his tenure as commander in 2015-2017 is no less interesting. He is known as a commanding figure who is firm and invites a lot of sensations.
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TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo after the prayer ceremony with 17 17 17 at TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta, Thursday (17/8). (CNN Indonesia / Feri Agus Setyawan)- – |
As the TNI commander, his figure is admired by most Muslims because he often appeared in demonstrations in volume in 2016 in his military clothes and white cap.
Of all his activities while serving as Commander, his appearances in the 411 and 212 actions are perhaps the most remembered by the public. However, Gatot’s presence at the 411 demonstration was said to have had an element of intent and was arranged in such a way that Jokowi as president did not appear and he took over the stage.
But then, at the 212 Action Gatot joined Jokowi to meet the masses who had gathered at Monas and held the Friday prayers together.
Gatot’s track record is also attached when it comes to the cancellation of the procurement of Heli AW 101. Gatot directly asked the Air Force Chief of Staff who was in charge at that time to cancel the purchase of the Heli whose agreement had been signed.
At that time, Gatot followed Jokowi’s wish, who considered the cooperation to purchase helicopters with PT Diratama Jaya Mandiri to be too expensive, because the funds that had to be disbursed reached Rp738 billion. Gatot even issued a warrant to investigate the procurement of this Heli, until finally the project was declared to be indicated as corruption.
Another Heli project, another question of orders. Gatot also once asked ranks within the TNI to watch the G30S / PKI film together. Many disagreed with Gatot’s orders, because the film was considered a propaganda tool for the New Order.
However, Gatot did not care. He openly admitted to giving orders to watch the film. He also explained the reason he often talked about the PKI was because he did not want the organization to come back to life.
Apart from the PKI issue, Gatot has also uncovered the purchase of 5,000 weapons outside his agency which then caused a polemic. This information was originally presented in an internal event and not for publication.
However, this statement was widely circulated, causing quite a long polemic. Until finally Wiranto, who at that time served as the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, raised his voice, he said the problem of buying weapons did exist but it was not illegal. The weapon was purchased for intelligence purposes.
(tst/pmg)
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