The Importance of Public Communication on Plans for New Military Infrastructure Development

The proposed formation of Territorial Development Battalions (Yon TP) by the Ministry of Defence was the main topic of a public discussion organised by the Merah Putih Institute (MPI). The discussion, titled ‘Questioning Defence Policy in the Acceleration of Hundreds of Territorial Development Battalions: State Resilience or the Defence Minister’s Ambition,’ examined the regulatory aspects, urgency, and sectoral impacts of the policy plan. MPI Director Fauzan Ohorella underscored the importance of aligning the proposal with Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Armed Forces (UU TNI). Referring to Article 7 paragraph (2) regarding Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP), the implementation of technical policies in the field requires a strict political mandate from the Head of State. ‘The implementation of OMSP, based on statutory regulations, must be founded on state policy and political decisions. Therefore, coordination and synchronisation with the President, as the highest holder of governmental power, is the determining factor,’ said Fauzan during the discussion in South Jakarta. Constitutional law expert Rorano assessed that the government needs to remap the urgency of involving military personnel in national development programmes, such as the agricultural and health sectors, or community development. According to Rorano, an in-depth study is needed to ensure that the involvement of the defence institution does not overlap with the technical functions inherently attached to the relevant civilian ministries and agencies. ‘There needs to be a clear mapping of the scope of this work. We must see whether the functions of the existing sectoral ministries are still running effectively or require external strengthening support,’ Rorano elaborated. Yepiter, a lecturer in Constitutional Law at the University of Jakarta, discussed the position of the National Defence Council (DPN) within Indonesia’s constitutional structure based on the mandate of the 1945 Constitution. Yepiter reminded that, in a restrictive sense, the DPN’s role is designed as a non-structural body that functions to provide strategic advice to the President in determining general defence policy, not as an executor of tactical policies in the field. ‘Based on the mandate of the law, the DPN is not equipped with discretionary power to take independent legal action. Its primary function lies in providing global strategic input to the President as the supreme holder of power over the armed forces,’ Yepiter explained. From a public transparency perspective, Sabrina, Director of Administration at the Indonesian Muslim Students Press Institute (LAPMI) PB HMI, stressed the importance of massive and transparent public communication regarding spatial planning for areas intended for new military infrastructure development. This transparency is considered crucial to prevent misinformation and potential spatial disputes with agricultural land or indigenous community territories in the regions. ‘Information transparency and intensive public dialogue are the main keys so that the ministry’s strategic programmes can be well understood by the wider community, while minimising potential resistance at the grassroots level,’ concluded Sabrina.