Civil Coalition Criticises Alert Status 1 Order from TNI Commander: Unconstitutional
TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto issued a telegram directive to his subordinates to implement Alert Status 1 in anticipation of escalating conflict dynamics in the Middle East. A Civil Society Coalition assessed that the telegram directive is inconsistent with the Constitution.
The coalition comprises Indonesia RISK Centre, Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS and Amnesty International Indonesia. The coalition stressed that military force deployment rests with the President.
“The coalition assesses that the telegram is inconsistent with the Constitution, as military force deployment should be vested in the President, not the TNI Commander, given that the President holds supreme authority over the Army, Navy and Air Force (Article 10 of the 1945 Indonesian Constitution),” said Imparsial Chairman Ardi Manto Adiputra to journalists on Monday (9 March 2026).
The coalition explained that this interpretation is reinforced by Article 17 of Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, which confirms that TNI force deployment authority rests with the President. TNI deployment should be conducted by the President and the DPR.
“Assessment of national situation developments and evolving geopolitical dynamics, as well as TNI deployment, should be undertaken by the President and DPR as representatives of the people. Consequently, the TNI Commander cannot and should not make assessments of the prevailing situation,” it stated.
In this regard, the TNI is a defence instrument. Therefore, the Commander’s decision is deemed misguided.
“The TNI is a state defence instrument and its task is merely to implement state defence policy established by the President. Accordingly, it is wrong and incorrect for the TNI Commander to make assessments of the current situation and deploy the military,” it said.
Furthermore, the coalition observed that there is currently no urgency for Alert Status. The domestic situation remains manageable.
“The coalition views the urgency of military involvement at this time with Alert Status 1 as currently unnecessary. The national defence and security situation and condition is currently still being managed by the civil administration and law enforcement officials,” it stated.
TNI Explanation
Previously, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto issued a telegram directive to his subordinates to implement Alert Status 1 in anticipation of domestic situation developments resulting from the impact of conflict in the Middle East region. The TNI stated this measure was taken in accordance with TNI’s principal duties.
The directive is contained in TNI Commander Telegram No. TR/283/2026. The letter was signed by TNI Commander Operations Assistant Lieutenant General Bobby Rinal Makmun on 1 March 2026.
TNI Press Bureau Head Brigadier General Aulia Dwi Nasrullah explained that implementation of Alert Status 1 is a TNI duty and has been mandated by TNI Law. He stated the protection in question concerns threats to the nation and state.
“One of the principal duties of the TNI is to protect the entire nation and all of the Indonesian archipelago from threats and disturbances to the integrity of the Nation and State,” said Brigadier General Aulia when contacted on Sunday (8 March 2026).
Aulia stated that Alert Status 1 represents TNI readiness in facing evolving conflict developments. The conflicts in question, he said, are not confined to the national scope, but also international, such as those occurring in the Middle East.
“The TNI operates professionally and responsively, realised by continuously maintaining capability and strength to remain operationally ready, and maintaining alert readiness to anticipate developments in the international, regional and national strategic environment,” he stated.