Friends, did you know that every October 5th is celebrated as the Birthday of the Indonesian National Army or National Army Day? On October 5, 2021, it will be TNI’s 76th Birthday. The theme for this year’s anniversary is “United, Fighting, We Will Win”.
The Indonesian National Army (TNI) was born in the struggle for the Indonesian people to maintain independence from the threat of the Dutch who had ambitions to re-colonize Indonesia through gun violence. Initially the forerunner organization of the TNI was called the People’s Security Agency (BKR), but on October 5, 1945 it was changed to the People’s Security Army (TKR), and to improve the structure in accordance with the international military base, TKR was changed to the Indonesian Army (TRI).
In the further development of the government’s efforts to perfect the national army continued, while fighting and struggling to uphold the sovereignty and independence of the nation. To unite the two armed forces, namely the TRI as a regular army and the people’s struggle bodies, on June 3, 1947, the President officially approved the establishment of the Indonesian National Army (TNI).
At critical moments during the War of Independence (1945-1949), the TNI succeeded in being present as the people’s army, the revolutionary army, and the national army. As a nascent force, the TNI is organizing itself, at the same time having to face challenges at home and abroad. The challenges from within are armed upheavals in several areas, the PKI rebellion in Madiun and Darul Islam (DI) in West Java which could threaten national integrity. Meanwhile, the challenge from abroad was that the TNI twice faced Dutch Military Aggression, which had more modern organizations and weapons.
In the face of the Dutch aggression, the Indonesian people carried out the Universal People’s War in which all the forces of the TNI and the people as well as national resources were mobilized to deal with the aggression. Thus, the integrity and existence of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia can be maintained by the strength of the TNI together with the people.
In accordance with the decision of the Round Table Conference (KMB), at the end of 1949 the Republic of the United States of Indonesia (RIS) was formed. In line with that, the RIS Armed Forces (APRIS) was formed which is a combination of the TNI and KNIL with the TNI as the core. In August 1950 the RIS was dissolved and Indonesia returned to the form of a unitary state. APRIS also changed its name to the Indonesian Armed Forces (APRI).
The parliamentary democratic system adopted by the government in the 1950-1959 period affected the life of the TNI. The excessive interference of politicians in the internal affairs of the TNI led to the October 17, 1952 incident which resulted in a rift within the TNI AD. This period, also known as the Liberal Democracy Period, was also marked by various domestic rebellions. In 1950 some former KNIL members launched rebellions in Bandung (the Ratu Adil Armed Forces rebellion/APRA), in Makassar the Andi Azis Rebellion, and in Maluku the Republic of South Maluku (RMS) rebellion.
Meanwhile, DI TII West Java expanded its influence to South Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and Aceh. In 1958 the Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Indonesia/Perjuangan Rakyat Semesta (PRRI/Permesta) carried out rebellions in large parts of Sumatra and North Sulawesi which endangered national integrity. All these rebellions can be crushed by the TNI together with the forces of other components of the nation.
The effort to unite the organization of the armed forces and the National Police into the organization of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (ABRI) in 1962 was an important part of the history of the TNI in the decade of the 1960s. The unification of the Armed Forces under one command, is expected to achieve effectiveness and efficiency in carrying out its role
Furthermore, the PKI’s efforts were intensified and culminated in a coup against the legitimate government by the G30S/PKI, leaving the Indonesian nation at that time in a very critical situation. Under these conditions, the TNI succeeded in overcoming the critical situation of thwarting the coup and crushing the forces of its supporters together with the forces of the people and even the entire Indonesian people.
Currently, the main task of the TNI is to uphold state sovereignty, maintain the territorial integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, and protect the entire nation and the entire homeland of Indonesia from threats and disturbances to the integrity of the nation and state. .
Well, buddy, that’s the history of the formation and struggle of the TNI. Hopefully it can increase your knowledge about the TNI, yes. Happy National Army Day! May the TNI always be victorious on land, sea and air.