Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Special Advisor to the President on National Defense Affairs, Retired General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Dudung Abdurachman stated that President Prabowo Subianto is open to the possibility of meeting with the Retired Military Forum urging for the impeachment of Vice President (VP) Gibran Rakabuming Raka. According to Dudung, Prabowo views the incoming aspirations as not a problem.
"Even he (Prabowo) will give an opportunity to meet them (the retired military forum). It's not a problem," Dudung said at the Presidential Palace Complex, Central Jakarta, on Monday, May 5, 2025.
According to Dudung, the Retired Military Forum proposing Gibran's impeachment is driven by personal interests. They are only using the name of the retired TNI without the consent of all retired military personnel.
"They seem to represent the retired TNI. I don't think so. Don't let personal interests use the name of the retired military. It's not like that," he said.
The former Chief of the Indonesian Army Staff mentioned that there are many retired military organizations. He mentioned the Indonesian Retired Military Union and Warakawuri of TNI-POLRI (PEPABRI), the Indonesian Army Retirees Union or PPAD, the Indonesian Navy Retirees Union (PPAL), and the Indonesian Air Force Retirees Association (PPAU).
Dudung stated that these four organizations did not voice support for the impeachment of Gibran. "In fact, they did not convey that," he said.
According to Dudung, President Prabowo Subianto is very wise in responding to the proposal from the Retired Military Forum. Prabowo, he said, asked the retired TNI forum to follow the constitutional path.
Last month, hundreds of retired TNI personnel who are part of the Retired Military Forum urged President Prabowo Subianto to replace Gibran Rakabuming Raka's position as Vice President. The forum deemed the Constitutional Court's decision regarding Article 169 letter q of the Election Law to be a violation of the Constitutional Court's procedural law and the Judicial Power Law.
"Proposing the replacement of the Vice President to the MPR because the Constitutional Court's decision on Article 169 letter q of the Election Law has violated the Constitutional Court's procedural law and the Judicial Power Law," read one of their eight demands conveyed on April 17, 2025.
Aside from demanding Gibran's impeachment, one of the forum's demands is to revert to the original 1945 Constitution as the political legal framework and the government's order.
The document was signed by Retired General of TNI Fachrul Razi, Retired General of TNI Tyasno Soedarto, Retired Admiral of TNI Slamet Soebijanto, and Retired Air Chief Marshal TNI Hanafie Asnan, and is also known by Retired General of TNI Try Sutrisno, vice president from 1993-1998.
Special Advisor to the President on Political and Security Affairs, Retired General of TNI Wiranto, stated that President Prabowo Subianto understands the eight demands conveyed by the Retired Military Forum. One of the groups demands for the replacement of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to the MPR.
Wiranto mentioned that Prabowo understands the demands of the Retired Military Forum because he shares the same alma mater with the generals and colonels of the forum. Despite understanding this, he said, Prabowo cannot directly respond to several demands.
"Because these are not trivial issues, but rather very fundamental issues," he said at the Presidential Office, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, April 24, 2025.