N A M A R I N

General Andika Perkasa has been installed by President Joko Widodo as the Indonesian Military's (TNI) commander replacing Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto, who retired in November. Though not surprising, the appointment of the former Army chief of staff was still rippling the water, since according to the customary succession practice adopted since Reformasi it should have Navy chief of staff Admiral Yudo Margono's turn to be TNI commander. Certain military observers are therefore of the opinion that the appointment of Andika was an indication of a political victory rather one based on a   merit system within the country’s uniformed institutions. Indeed, months before his nomination to the parliament by President Joko Widodo, a series of political maneuvers had been launched by the so-called "civil society organizations" or NGO demanding the President to immediately appointed General Andika as TNI commander. This also included lobbying by his father-in-law, retire