TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia Strategic and Defence Studies (ISDS) is questioning the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) assignment policy in securing the Attorney General's Office. The policy is considered to potentially create overlapping of authorities between the military and civilian law enforcement.
"Civil-military cooperation is a good thing to do in any country. However, such cooperation, especially in modern countries, requires a clear division of tasks," said ISDS Co-Founder Dwi Sasongko in a written statement on Monday, May 12, 2025.
The policy refers to the telegram from TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto on May 5, 2025, and the Memorandum of Understanding NK 6/IV/2023 signed on April 6, 2023. Dwi assessed that two points in the memorandum need to be re-evaluated as they create gray areas in its implementation.
"Securing the Attorney General's Office is the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding NK 6/IV/2023 dated April 6. Out of the 8 scopes, points 3 and 5 need further clarification because they have the potential to create gray areas," said Dwi.
He specifically questions the intent of the third point in the MoU. "The assignment of TNI soldiers in the environment of the Indonesian Attorney General's Office-what does it mean? If it's about military prosecutors, it has been regulated before. If the TNI Commander Superior Staff is for the Attorney General Office's Security Task-even that is incorrect because it is not part of the TNI's main duties, both in the Operationally Ready Forces and Territorial Commands," he said.
Dwi questions the basis of this assignment if there is no actual military threat. "The TNI is a national defense instrument whose duty lies in the field of defense. Is there a military threat endangering Indonesia's sovereignty at the Attorney General's Office? If not, why place the TNI in the Attorney General's Office? It could even raise questions from the public about the state of the country," he said.
The fifth point in the MoU is also questioned. "Point 5 also needs further clarification on the form of TNI personnel support and assistance at the Attorney General's Office, considering that the Attorney General's Office is part of the law enforcement agencies, while the TNI is not part of the law enforcement agencies," said Dwi.
Dwi emphasizes that assigning the TNI outside the defense aspect is a form of deviation. "In conclusion, assigning the TNI outside the defense aspect not only does not comply with the TNI Law but also erodes the professionalism of the TNI and the morale of TNI personnel," he said.
ISDS further emphasizes the importance of maintaining military professionalism to avoid direct involvement in civilian matters. "ISDS emphasizes that the professionalism of the TNI can only be maintained if its role remains within the framework of national defense and does not get involved directly in civilian matters, except in national emergency conditions based on the state's political decisions," he said.
Dwi reminds that geopolitical challenges and external threats should be the military's main focus. "In the future, ISDS hopes that the TNI will continue to strengthen its position as the front guard in safeguarding the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, facing potential external threats, and anticipating increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics," he said.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office denies the statement of the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform, which states that the deployment of the TNI within the High Prosecutor and District Prosecutor could strengthen military intervention in civilian matters, especially in law enforcement areas.
"Which intervention? Their duty (the assigned TNI) is only for office security," said Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office Harli Siregar when confirmed on Sunday, May 11, 2025. "It is not related to the substance of case handling."
Daniel A. Fajri contributed to the writing of this article.
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