Maria Katarina Sumarsih, the initiator of the Thursday Action (Aksi\nKamisan), has scrutinised the running of Prabowo Subianto\u2019s government\nover the past 21 months. She fears the administration is returning to a\nmilitaristic approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, militarism endangers the safety of the people. Over the 21\nmonths of Prabowo Subianto\u2019s government, there have been acts of\nviolence by military apparatus,\u201d said Sumarsih when delivering the Sutan\nTakdir Alisjahbana (AJ) Memorial Lecture on the Thursday Action at Taman\nIsmail Marzuki, Jakarta, on Monday, 27 July 2026.<\/p>\n
Sumarsih explained that efforts towards militarism were marked by the\nretreat programme for ministers and state officials surrounding the\npresident. \u201cRegional heads and civil servants (ASN) at the Military\nAcademy in Magelang, Central Java. All participants wore military\nuniforms and learned to march like soldiers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The mother of Bernardinus Realino Norma Irawan (Wawan), an Atma Jaya\nUniversity student killed in the Semanggi I tragedy, said the return of\nmilitarism in the Prabowo era was evident from the placement of military\nand police personnel in state institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is quite startling for us all that two former deputy heads of the\nNational Nutrition Agency (BGN), who are now suspects, turn out to come\nfrom the army and police,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On this occasion, Sumarsih also highlighted acts of violence\ncommitted by state apparatus under Prabowo\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
One of these was the tragedy that occurred on 28\u201331 August 2025.\nSumarsih said the incident claimed the life of an online motorcycle taxi\ndriver, Affan Kurniawan, who died after being run over by a Mobile\nBrigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle.<\/p>\n
Then there was the tragedy that befell the Deputy Coordinator of\nKontraS, Andrie Yunus, on 12 March 2026. Andrie Yunus was doused with\ncaustic liquid by a member of the TNI\u2019s BAIS after protesting against\ndiscussions on the revision of the TNI Law, which were held behind\nclosed doors.<\/p>\n
She also highlighted the hundreds of people who became political\nprisoners following the August 2025 demonstrations. \u201cFrom the tragedy of\n28\u201331 August 2025 until now, many young people remain in detention.\u201d<\/p>\n
And on 13 June 2026, the TNI and Polri blocked and barred students\nwho intended to demonstrate at the HI Roundabout. At the time, the\nstudents were criticising state policies that were not pro-people.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocracy has now entered the crocodile\u2019s jaws. The government is\nmilitaristic and centralistic; the people\u2019s voice is being silenced,\u201d\nsaid Sumarsih.<\/p>\n
She said the general election had produced a deficit of statesmen.\nSumarsih also reiterated that violence by state apparatus against the\npeople continued, judging that human rights were not being\nrespected.<\/p>\n
Not to mention the numerous cases of corruption, collusion and\nnepotism (KKN) committed by the government. \u201cIt is growing lushly, while\nthe poverty gap widens,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In this regard, participants of the Thursday Action expressed their\nconcern about the declining quality of democracy, because criticism of\nthe government risks being silenced.<\/p>\n
The militaristic approach also threatens civil liberties and\nincreases repressive actions against human rights defenders, in a manner\nreminiscent of authoritarian practices of the past.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sumarsih-fears-the-return-of-militarism-1785300891", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }