UGM Republic Conference Addresses Prabowo's Remilitarisation
Hundreds of academics, activists, civil society organisations, and community groups gathered at the University Club of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta on Saturday, 30 May 2026. The forum was held in response to the growing military influence as part of the democratic decline under President Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka’s administration.
Remilitarisation was one of the topics discussed at the conference titled ‘Republic Conference: Strengthening Civil Society as Republic Pillars’. Alongside the rising militarism, they addressed critical issues including economic inequality, democratic representation crises, weakened social foundations, and legal and institutional crises.
The one-day consolidation involved several speakers, including Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, Yanuar Nugroho, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, Arie Sujito, Alissa Wahid, Bhima Yudistira, Candra Hamzah, Titi Anggraini, Andi Wijayanto, Leo Kleden, Baiquni, Gita Wirjawan, Komaruddin Hidayat, and Saiful Mujani, founder of Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC).
Sociologist at UGM, Arie Sujito, stated the meeting was an accumulation of academic and activist concerns over economic and political crises. The consolidation serves as an alternative movement to safeguard the democratic process, arising from shared apprehensions. ‘We must prevent democracy from further crumbling. Academics, activists, civil society members, and critical journalists must continue to consolidate,’ Sujito said.
Sujito noted that over three decades since the reform era began, democratisation has faced unavoidable pressures and tug-of-wars. Indonesia confronts far more complex, fluid challenges that often move silently within the confines of formal legal frameworks.
According to Sujito, Indonesia is experiencing democratic regression, as per political scientists’ findings, marked by terroristic practices reproducing neo-authoritarianism.
He highlighted remilitarisation as a crucial factor weakening democracy. The military has infiltrated through government programmes with top-down approaches, charitable or voluntary activities, and various strategies to subdue elite, middle, and lower classes. ‘This is a regression of reform agendas and threatens democracy,’ he said.
The Head of Indonesia 2045 Laboratory, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, stated that militarisation hinders Indonesia’s institutional development. The TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) is now present in public spaces subtly through presidential regulations and decrees.
Pramodhawardani cited the existence of combat battalions and territorial development battalions that stray from the constitutional mandate of TNI as a defence force. ‘The TNI is increasingly encroaching on civilian domains,’ said the former Deputy V for Politics, Law, Defence, Security, and Human Rights at the Presidential Staff Office.