NEWS BRIEF
Indonesia’s defense ministry has taken out a full-page newspaper advertisement defending the military’s growing involvement in civilian programs including nutrition, farming, and healthcare—under President Prabowo Subianto. The move comes amid rising concerns that the world’s third-largest democracy is reverting to the authoritarian military-dominated era of former leader Suharto.
WHAT HAPPENED
- The defense ministry published a full-page ad in Kompas newspaper titled “No Longer Just Military: Indonesian-style People’s Defense.”
- The ad outlined 10 non-defense programs run by the military, including free school lunches, medicine production, and agricultural projects.
- Plans include expanding from 100 to 500 specialized battalions in health and agriculture over the next five years.
- A defense spokesperson said the ad aimed to counter public perception that these actions represent “militarization.”
WHY IT MATTERS
- The military’s expanding role under Prabowo, a former Suharto-era general—raises fears of democratic backsliding and a return to authoritarian governance.
- Deploying soldiers in sectors like education and health blurs the line between civilian and military authority, potentially undermining democratic institutions.
- The government’s use of a national ad campaign suggests awareness of public skepticism and an effort to legitimize the military’s broadened mandate.
- This shift could strengthen Prabowo’s control over key social and economic programs ahead of future elections or policy reforms.
IMPLICATIONS
- Increased military presence in daily life may reduce transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
- Normalizing military involvement in civic affairs sets a precedent that could be hard to reverse, especially under future leaders.
- Neighboring democracies may view Indonesia’s military expansion as a sign of instability or authoritarian drift in Southeast Asia.
- Student and activist groups are likely to intensify protests, potentially leading to civil-military tensions or government crackdowns.
This briefing is based on information from Reuters.
