{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1913339,
        "msgid": "civil-society-coalition-condemns-tni-commanders-statement-on-public-security-responsibility-1786456387",
        "date": "2026-08-11 19:37:44",
        "title": "Civil Society Coalition Condemns TNI Commander's Statement on Public Security Responsibility",
        "author": "",
        "source": "DETIK",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Security Sector Reform",
        "summary": "A coalition of civil society organisations has strongly criticised the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, for claiming responsibility for public security across Indonesia. The group argues the statement blurs the constitutional separation between defence and domestic security, risking a return to military dominance in civilian life. They have urged the President to halt unjustified military involvement in civil affairs and called for parliamentary oversight.",
        "content": "<p>The Civil Society Coalition has condemned the statement by Indonesian\nMilitary (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto regarding his\nresponsibility for public security throughout Indonesia. The statement\nwas made alongside an explanation that the TNI has been and will\ncontinue to conduct patrols in various regions, including to anticipate\npossible demonstrations, such as those that occurred last August. \u201cThis\nstatement cannot be dismissed as a mere poor choice of words. The claim\nof being responsible for public security shows that the boundary between\ndefence and domestic security is increasingly being blurred,\u201d the Civil\nSociety Coalition stated in a press release on Tuesday (11\/8\/2026).\n\u201cFurthermore, this statement risks legitimising the military\u2019s presence\nas a normal part of civilian life.\u201d The coalition highlighted the\nconstitutional division of roles, noting that Article 30 of the 1945\nConstitution designates the TNI as the state instrument for defence,\nwhile the National Police (Polri) is responsible for public security and\norder, law enforcement, and protecting and serving the community. \u201cThis\ndivision is not merely an administrative matter,\u201d the coalition\nexplained. \u201cThe separation of the TNI and Polri is a key achievement of\nthe Reformasi era, intended to end the military\u2019s dual function and its\ndominance over civilian affairs. History has shown the risks when the\nmilitary is given excessive space in public life: freedoms were\nsilenced, violence was tolerated, human rights violations occurred, and\naccountability was difficult to obtain.\u201d The coalition argued that\njustifications such as \u2018coordination\u2019, \u2018collaboration\u2019, or acting under\nstandard operating procedures are insufficient to legitimise the\ndeployment of the military in civilian spaces. \u201cSOPs are internal rules;\nthey cannot create authority that is not granted by the constitution and\nlaws,\u201d the statement read. The group expressed deep concern that patrols\nand TNI deployments are being linked to the possibility of\ndemonstrations. \u201cA protest is not a threat to the state. It is a\nconstitutional right of citizens to assemble, express opinions, and\nscrutinise the exercise of power. Responding to demonstrations with\nmilitary patrols is a misguided approach that risks creating fear and\nintimidation, particularly for students, workers, farmers, indigenous\ncommunities, women, journalists, human rights defenders, and other\ngroups fighting for their rights.\u201d The coalition also warned that\ninvolving the TNI in such matters carries serious risks, as soldiers\ncould be drawn into conducting checks, arrests, interrogations,\nsurveillance, or other law enforcement actions beyond their authority.\n\u201cIf violence occurs, the public will once again face a closed military\naccountability system that historically has allowed impunity to\npersist,\u201d the statement said. The coalition stressed that their\ncriticism of military involvement does not imply support for repressive\npolice actions. They urged the government to answer why it treats public\ncriticism and demonstrations as security disturbances requiring a\nmilitary response. \u201cThe boundary established by the Reformasi must be\nguarded. The TNI is not the police, demonstrations are not a threat to\nthe state, and Indonesia is not a military barracks,\u201d the coalition\nconcluded.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/civil-society-coalition-condemns-tni-commanders-statement-on-public-security-responsibility-1786456387",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}