DistantNews
Support us
Indonesia to ease military recruitment rules for interior Dayak communities
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Conflict & Security

Indonesia to ease military recruitment rules for interior Dayak communities

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • President Prabowo Subianto directed the Indonesian military to adjust recruitment requirements for people from interior Dayak communities seeking to join the armed forces.
  • Proposed adjustments include rules on traditional tattoos and physical height requirements, while the military said the recruitment mechanism still needs to be finalized.
  • The guidance followed Prabowo’s meeting with TBBR leader Panglima Jilah and a subsequent meeting with senior military officials and ministers.

Indonesia’s government is preparing special recruitment arrangements for people from interior Dayak communities who want to join the military, including adjustments for traditional tattoos and physical height.

President Prabowo Subianto issued the guidance after meeting Panglima Jilah, the grand leader of the Pasukan Merah Tariu Borneo Bangkule Rajakng, at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug. 28. The next day, Prabowo summoned the military commander, service chiefs and several ministers at his residence in Hambalang, West Java.

A statement from Indonesia’s Cabinet Secretariat said the meeting covered adjustments to recruitment requirements for interior Dayak applicants. It also addressed responses to disasters, including the aftermath of an earthquake in Flores, the eruption of Mount Merapi, and forest and land fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra.

The interior Dayak community has asked for an opportunity to join the TNI, so for those who are shorter, give them a little privilege.

— Sjafrie SjamsoeddinThe defense minister described proposed accommodations for interior Dayak applicants seeking to join the military.

The Indonesian military headquarters said it would follow Prabowo’s direction. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas, the military’s public information chief, said the armed forces gave all Indonesians an opportunity to serve, but that officials still needed to discuss and establish the details of any changes.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin described the plan as granting certain privileges to interior Dayak applicants. “The interior Dayak community has asked for an opportunity to join the TNI, so for those who are shorter, give them a little privilege,” he said at parliament in Jakarta on Aug. 31.

Army Chief Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak said Dayak people were already allowed to take part in military recruitment. He added that tattoos linked to tradition had long been permitted. “Yes, they have actually been allowed for a long time, there is no problem with that. If someone has a tattoo because of tradition, it is permitted,” he said.

Yes, they have actually been allowed for a long time, there is no problem with that. If someone has a tattoo because of tradition, it is permitted.

— Maruli SimanjuntakThe army chief said traditional tattoos had already been accepted in military recruitment.
About this summary

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog