Civil Coalition Deems Military Alert Level 1 Status Unconstitutional
Jakarta — A civil society coalition has rejected alert level 1 status declared by Indonesian military commander General Agus Subiyanto, finding it inconsistent with the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.
“Alert level 1 instruction from the TNI commander: unconstitutional and a threat to civilian supremacy,” read the title of a press statement issued by the Coalition of Civil Society for Security Sector Reform on Monday, 9 March 2026.
The coalition comprises 26 organisations, including human rights non-governmental organisations, environmental groups, legal aid foundations, gender advocates, journalists’ associations, and student executive bodies.
“The coalition finds that the telegram does not align with the Constitution, as the deployment of military force should rest with the President rather than the military commander, given that the President holds supreme authority over the army, navy, and air force (Article 10 of the 1945 Constitution). This is reinforced by Article 17 of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI, which affirms that authority over military force deployment lies with the President,” the coalition stated.
“Consequently, the TNI commander has neither the authority nor the capacity to assess the prevailing situation. The TNI is a state defence instrument tasked only with implementing defence policies created by the President. It is therefore incorrect for the military commander to assess the situation and deploy military forces,” the coalition added.
The coalition contends that alert level 1 status is premature, as the situation remains under control by civilian government and law enforcement agencies.
“There is no genuine escalation of threats to national sovereignty that would necessitate military involvement within alert level 1,” the coalition stated.
The organisations believe civilian institutions remain capable of managing the situation.
“The coalition urges the President and parliament to evaluate and revoke the telegram as it contradicts the constitution and lacks urgency,” they said.
The Coalition of Civil Society for Security Sector Reform comprises: Indonesia RISK Centre, Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS, Amnesty International Indonesia, Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), WALHI, Centra Initiative, ICW, Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Jakarta, SETARA Institute, Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Press, Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Society, Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Surabaya Pos Malang, Alliance for Papua Democracy (ALDP), Public Virtue, Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR), Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Jakarta, Nusantara Indigenous Peoples Defender Association (PPMAN), BEM SI, De Jure, Raksha Initiative, Legal Aid Foundation Association of Indonesian Women for Justice (LBH APIK), Indonesian Women Coalition (KPI), Legal Aid Foundation Medan, Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia.
The military commander’s telegram numbered TR/283/2026, signed by the TNI commander’s operations assistant Lieutenant General Bobby Rinal Makmun on 1 March 2026, stipulated that all TNI units must increase operational readiness amid escalating international conflict dynamics and their potential impact on domestic security.
Alert level 1 status remains in effect from 1 March 2026 until a date yet to be determined.
Military officials explained that the policy was adopted as a precautionary step against potential impacts of Middle Eastern conflicts on Indonesia’s security stability.
“The TNI commander’s order is to anticipate domestic security following US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which triggered Iranian retaliation against Israel and US bases in Middle Eastern countries, as well as for protection of Indonesian citizens abroad,” a military spokesman said when contacted on Saturday, 7 March 2026.