TNI Denies Seizing Citizens' Land for Territorial Development Battalion Projects

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — TNI Headquarters (Mabes TNI) has denied seizing citizens’ land for the construction of Territorial Development Battalions (Yon TP). ‘It is incorrect to claim that Yon TP construction involves seizing citizens’ land,’ said TNI Public Affairs Chief Brigadier General Muhammad Nas to KOMPAS.com on Thursday, 28 May 2026. Nas stated that Yon TP construction is carried out on state-owned land coordinated with relevant agencies. The Army (AD) aims to have 750 units at the regency/city level across Indonesia. ‘This construction concept is part of a broader design to establish forces at regency and city levels, with plans for approximately 750 units comprising 593 Yon TP and 157 combat and administrative support units,’ said Donny when asked on Thursday, 23 April 2026. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) aims to build 150 Territorial Development Battalions (Yon TP) annually. ‘And the plan is to build 150 Territorial Development Battalions each year,’ said Defence Ministry Information Bureau Chief Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait when met at the Ministry of Defence in Jakarta on Friday, 24 April 2026. During a meeting with House of Representatives Commission I, Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin cited the absence of military units at regency level and rising street muggings and crime across various regions as reasons for the government to establish 750 new battalions by 2029. ‘What is happening? Street muggings are rampant,’ Sjafrie said during the Commission I DPR meeting in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 19 May 2026. He added that the Territorial Development Battalions’ duties include conducting patrols using vehicles provided by the defence industry. ‘Reinstating neighbourhood security systems (siskamling), which had declined but is now being revived, relates to crime,’ he said.