Indonesia’s New Army Chief Sets Priorities for Prabowo Programs
Indonesia’s new army chief Tandyo Budi Revita says accelerating government programs and helping fight peatland fires are top priorities.
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s new army chief, Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita, said the military would accelerate government programs that involve the army and assist with peatland fires, setting out his priorities after President Prabowo Subianto installed him in Jakarta on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. His agenda also includes the government’s focus on security and public welfare in Papua.
The appointment puts the Indonesian Army under new leadership as it takes part in civilian government programs and emergency fire response. Tandyo replaces Gen. Maruli Simanjuntak. He did not specify implementation timelines, deployment areas or the forces assigned to each task.
Army to support strategic government programs
At the presidential palace, Tandyo took an oath pledging allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia, founded on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution. He also pledged to uphold laws, observe the ethics of office, carry out his duties responsibly and abide by the soldier’s oath.
After the ceremony, Tandyo said the army had work to do on programs led by Prabowo and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. He named KDKMP, community schools and food security as priorities requiring faster implementation by the force.
“Many of President Prabowo’s and Vice President Gibran’s strategic programs involve the army. This will certainly be a task for the army: to speed up operations, whether KDKMP, community schools or food security, which is the president’s responsibility, and we will complete them soon,” Tandyo said.
The programs place army personnel among the government’s implementation resources, according to Tandyo’s remarks. He did not explain what KDKMP entails, identify specific army units or outline how the military’s role would be divided from that of other government bodies.
Army offers support against forest and peat fires
Tandyo also said the army would use its available capacity to help extinguish forest and land fires, with particular attention to peatland. He cited the force’s broad presence across the country as an advantage for supporting fire response, but gave no details on locations or the form of assistance.
“For forest and land fires, certainly, because the army has a wide presence and can help speed up the extinguishing of peatland fires. The army will deploy what it can to help bring the fires under control,” he said.
The commitment signals support from the military rather than a transfer of responsibility for the entire response. The practical impact will depend on how army resources are mobilized alongside the other bodies handling fires; Tandyo did not describe coordination arrangements or set a timetable.
The appointment was based on Presidential Decrees 105 and 106 of 2026. The decrees covered the dismissal and appointment of the deputy commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, who also serves as head of the National Border Management Agency for Remote Areas, as well as the installation of the army chief.
Papua security and welfare remain government priorities
Asked about security in Papua, Tandyo said the Prabowo government prioritizes addressing security disturbances and improving residents’ welfare. He offered no specific army measures, locations or schedule, and framed the issue as a presidential priority.
In his first remarks as army chief, Tandyo linked the institution’s immediate work to government programs, fire response and the government’s stated priorities in Papua. He said the army would use its available capacity to help fight peatland fires.
