September 8, 2025 | 08:55 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Defense acknowledged the deployment of TNI soldiers in several locations following the wave of protests last month. But according to the head of the Defense Information Bureau, Brigadier General Frega Wenas Inkiriwang, the move was intended as a support for the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
"This is a form of support by TNI toward the National Police Chief under President Prabowo Subianto's directive, and the request of the National Police Chief to the TNI Commander on August 30," he said when met at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on Monday, September 8, 2025.
He emphasized that the deployment was in accordance with Law Number 3 of 2004, which was revised this year under Law Number 3 of 2025. "It is incorrect that the TNI hopes to take over the role of the police," he said, adding that there's no dual command in the deployment.
Soldiers were seen on Jakarta streets following the wave of demonstrations at the end of August, stationed at several vital locations alongside police forces. Their presence added an extra layer of security when workers, students, and college students were demanding the dissolution of the House of Representatives, among other demands.
Following the clashes that resulted from the growing tensions during the protests, the soldiers remained on standby. Despite being involved on the ground, it is stated that the command of protest-handling remains in the hands of the police. The military is claimed to only carry out support functions according to official mechanisms.
The Commander of the Jakarta Military Regional Command, Major General Deddy Suryadi, said joint patrols of the military and police were carried out at several points to help maintain stability. He could not confirm until when the patrols would continue.
"Our patrols back up the police. So, when the police lack personnel, we also help secure the Jakarta area," he said when contacted on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
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