ISESS: Status Siaga I in the Indonesian National Armed Forces Does Not Apply to Civilians

Co-Founder of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS), Khairul Fahmi, said the designation of Siaga I in the TNI chain of command is an instruction from the commander aimed at and applicable only to internal military personnel. The readiness status, which signals preparedness for potential threats, does not apply to civilians. ‘Siaga status, whether Siaga 3, Siaga 2, or Siaga 1, is basically an internal command instruction within the TNI,’ Khairul said on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

He explained that Siaga I differs from national danger statuses such as civil emergency, military emergency, or war emergency. National danger status is a public-law status that limits civil rights, governed by the constitution through Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 23 of 1959, and must be decided politically and announced directly by the president.

By contrast, Siaga I inside the TNI does not apply to civilians. ‘The rhythm of life, economic activity, and civilian rights continue normally without curfews or any restrictions,’ he said.

Practically, Khairul said, the Siaga I instruction from the commander means soldiers must apply the highest level of vigilance. All leave rights are suspended, they are required to be on full standby at their units, and the main weaponry systems (alutsista) are prepared at maximum operational readiness.

According to him, given that the commander’s decision to set Siaga I by TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto relates to escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, the force’s preparation is more aimed at operations other than war, such as preparing to evacuate Indonesian citizens from conflict zones. He argued the commander’s decision is correct and procedurally appropriate.

‘From a military perspective, the dynamics of escalation in the Middle East currently require the TNI as the state’s defence instrument to activate an early warning system and prepare contingency plans,’ he said.

Earlier, the TNI Commander, General Agus Subiyanto, announced Siaga I for all defence units in Indonesia. Siaga Satu was declared by the TNI Commander amid the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and confirmed by the head of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais TNI), Lieutenant General Yudi Abrimantyo.

‘The Siaga Satu status issued by the TNI Commander is addressed to all TNI ranks, including Bais TNI,’ Yudi told Tempo on Saturday, 7 March 2026.

Yudi explained that the Siaga Satu status aims to anticipate domestic security situations amid the rising escalation of the Middle East conflict after the Iran-US and Israel wars broke out.

In the commander’s instruction document obtained by Tempo, one of the orders issued was for the Jayakarta Military Area Command (Kodam Jaya/Jayakarta) to conduct security patrols at strategic vital objects and foreign embassy offices in Jakarta.