Civil Society Coalition Condemns TNI Commander's Statement on Public Security Responsibility

The Civil Society Coalition has condemned the statement by Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander General Agus Subiyanto regarding his responsibility for public security throughout Indonesia. The statement was made alongside an explanation that the TNI has been and will continue to conduct patrols in various regions, including to anticipate possible demonstrations, such as those that occurred last August. “This statement cannot be dismissed as a mere poor choice of words. The claim of being responsible for public security shows that the boundary between defence and domestic security is increasingly being blurred,” the Civil Society Coalition stated in a press release on Tuesday (11/8/2026). “Furthermore, this statement risks legitimising the military’s presence as a normal part of civilian life.” The coalition highlighted the constitutional division of roles, noting that Article 30 of the 1945 Constitution designates the TNI as the state instrument for defence, while the National Police (Polri) is responsible for public security and order, law enforcement, and protecting and serving the community. “This division is not merely an administrative matter,” the coalition explained. “The separation of the TNI and Polri is a key achievement of the Reformasi era, intended to end the military’s dual function and its dominance over civilian affairs. History has shown the risks when the military is given excessive space in public life: freedoms were silenced, violence was tolerated, human rights violations occurred, and accountability was difficult to obtain.” The coalition argued that justifications such as ‘coordination’, ‘collaboration’, or acting under standard operating procedures are insufficient to legitimise the deployment of the military in civilian spaces. “SOPs are internal rules; they cannot create authority that is not granted by the constitution and laws,” the statement read. The group expressed deep concern that patrols and TNI deployments are being linked to the possibility of demonstrations. “A protest is not a threat to the state. It is a constitutional right of citizens to assemble, express opinions, and scrutinise the exercise of power. Responding to demonstrations with military patrols is a misguided approach that risks creating fear and intimidation, particularly for students, workers, farmers, indigenous communities, women, journalists, human rights defenders, and other groups fighting for their rights.” The coalition also warned that involving the TNI in such matters carries serious risks, as soldiers could be drawn into conducting checks, arrests, interrogations, surveillance, or other law enforcement actions beyond their authority. “If violence occurs, the public will once again face a closed military accountability system that historically has allowed impunity to persist,” the statement said. The coalition stressed that their criticism of military involvement does not imply support for repressive police actions. They urged the government to answer why it treats public criticism and demonstrations as security disturbances requiring a military response. “The boundary established by the Reformasi must be guarded. The TNI is not the police, demonstrations are not a threat to the state, and Indonesia is not a military barracks,” the coalition concluded.