All About the 81st TNI Anniversary: Mahaputera Star for Military Figures and New Units and PDU

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Headquarters held a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the TNI at the Prima field, TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Monday (6/10/2026).

This year's celebration was markedly different from previous years.

The ceremony was simple, without parades or demonstrations of main weapon systems (alutsista).

This simplicity was a gesture of respect to the soldiers currently engaged in disaster relief efforts in several regions.

Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto as the Ceremony Commander

During this occasion, the Commander of Joint Defense Command III, Lieutenant General TNI Lucky Avianto, led the 81st TNI anniversary ceremony.

In recent years, Lucky's military career has often been stationed in Papua.

From 2020 to 2021, he served as the Assistant Operations Chief of the 18th Kasuari Military Command and as the Head of the BIN Training Center (2022-2023).

In 2024, he returned to Papua with the mandate as the Commander of TNI Operations Habema.

In August 2025, Lucky was appointed as the Commander of the XXIV/Mandala Trikora Military Command, while simultaneously fulfilling his duties as the Commander of Operations Habema.

He was subsequently appointed as Commander of Joint Defense Command III in March 2026.

During his tenure as the Commander of TNI Operations Habema and Joint Defense Command III, Lucky has frequently announced the crackdown on armed groups of the Free Papua Organization (OPM).

At that time, Lucky stated that OPM represents a common enemy that must be opposed due to their ongoing acts of terrorism and violence against civilians.

This statement followed the burning of a Pilatus aircraft owned by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) and the shooting of its American pilot, Nicholas F. Goselin, at Ipdeheik Airport, Balinggama Village, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday (2/7/2026).

“Various terrorist acts have included intimidation, robbery, arson of schools, churches, and various public service facilities, rape of our women, as well as brutal massacres beyond the bounds of humanity,” said Lucky on July 3, 2026.

“(This) disregards values of tradition, religion, and divinity, which are perpetrated by TPNPB-OPM, and they are indeed a common enemy that we must oppose and stop,” he added.