Major General Andika Perkasa Appointed As Presidential Security Guards Commandant

Jakarta, Oct 22 (Antara) - Major General Andika Perkasa was inaugurated as the new commandant of the Presidential Security Guards and took over the position from his predecessor, Major General Doni Monardo. The inauguration ceremony was led by Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Moeldoko at the Presidential Security Guards Headquarter here on Wednesday. The inauguration was based on the Indonesian Military Commander`s Decree Number Kep/760/X/2014, dated October 14, 2014, on the discharge and assignment of Military officers. Some critics alleged that the assignment was given too soon to Andika, who had graduated from the Military Academy in 1987 and was a two-star rank officer. Regarding the critics, General Moeldoko noted that the assignment of Major General Andika was a natural handover process in the military`s organizational structure, despite the request from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo who had consulted about the matter with the Military commander. "Yes, it was a direct request (from President Jokowi) after seeking consultation with the TNI`s Commander. Hence, it is a natural handover process (in the military`s organizational structure)," he noted. The TNI commander also confirmed that there will be no change in the security protocol adopted for the president. "There is no change, our security standard is fixed. We have the VVIP`s operational standard, it cannot be reduced at all," General Moeldoko emphasized. The newly appointed Presidential Security Guards` Commandant Major General Andika Perkasa is the son-in-law of the former head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) A.M. Hendropriyono, and before being inaugurated as the commander of the Presidential Security Guards, he was serving as the head of the Army`s Information Service. A.M. Hendropriyono was a member of Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla`s success team of consultants during the last presidential elections. Andika also served in the Special Forces Command (Kopassus) during the period between 1987 and 2002 and also became a commandant in some Army units in 2011-2012. He joined the military operation in East Timor in 1990, the East Timor territorial operation in 1992, and the TNI`s community service operation in Aceh in 1994.