Remember once more the core identity of TNI. You are the people's soldier, fighter, national soldier, and professional soldier
Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR) deputy speaker Lodewijk Paulus highlighted during the celebration of the 76th anniversary of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) that soldiers should stay true to its core identity.

"Remember once more the core identity of TNI. You are the people's soldier, fighter, national soldier, and professional soldier," Paulus stated at the Parliamentary Complex here on Tuesday.

The House deputy speaker noted that TNI's core identity should be a guiding beacon for all soldiers in conducting their duties of guiding and interacting with the people.

Paulus opined that the theme of TNI's 76th Anniversary, "Unite, Fight, We Will Win," is increasingly relevant to Indonesia's current condition.

"We are called to unite and to continue to fight because with that conviction, TNI can win. Hence, win, not in terms of warfare, but in solving various issues faced by the nation," he elaborated.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had earlier attended the 76th anniversary ceremony of the TNI at the courtyard of the Merdeka Palace, here, on Tuesday morning.

During the ceremony, he called for a shift in Indonesia's defense policy.

"I asserted once more that we need to shift away from the defense spending policy to defense investment policy," President Jokowi stated.

The ceremony were also attended by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, TNI Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army General Andika Perkasa, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Yudo Margono, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo, and other officials.

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Translator: Imam Budilaksono, Fadhli R
Editor: Sri Haryati
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