Jakarta. Retired Army General Djamari Chaniago, 76, was sworn in on Wednesday as Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, replacing Budi Gunawan, who was dismissed nine days earlier after violent demonstrations and unrest swept across the country.

Speaking to reporters after his inauguration at the State Palace, Djamari said President Prabowo Subianto had acknowledged his age when offering him the post. “The president told me, ‘let’s spend the rest of our lives on total dedication to the nation’,” he recalled.

Before the ceremony, Prabowo conferred upon Djamari the honorary rank of full general. Djamari had retired more than a decade ago with the rank of lieutenant general.

A native of Padang, West Sumatra, Djamari graduated from the Indonesian Military Academy in 1971 and served in the Army’s Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), known for its green berets. He rose through the ranks to become Kostrad commander in 1998–1999, a period that coincided with the fall of long-time President Soeharto.

After his retirement from the military, Djamari entered politics, joining Prabowo’s Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), which helped cement his position as one of the president’s trusted allies.

Prabowo also awarded the honorary rank of full general to former deputy police chief Ahmad Dofiri, who has been appointed as the president’s security advisor.

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