Indonesia’s Military: From Defender to Dominator

Indonesia’s military is undergoing a startling transformation—once primarily focused on defending borders, it now actively involves itself in sectors like health, agriculture, and even food security. Under President Prabowo’s leadership, this expansion is praised by officials as a way to bolster national resilience and foster cross-sector collaboration. For example, troops are now manufacturing medicines in military labs, running free meal programs across schools, and seizing control of agricultural projects, which at first glance seem to benefit society. But, beneath this veneer of progress, critics warn that these activities resemble the intrusive control of the past, echoing the authoritarian days of Suharto when the military wielded unchecked power. The government’s recent full-page newspaper ad claims this is a necessary evolution of defense, framing it as a civilian-led ‘people’s defense,’ yet many see it as a calculated effort to deepen military influence. This shift is more than mere expansion; it’s a dangerous move that could erode the democratic fabric of Indonesia, creating a situation where civilian authority is overshadowed by military clout. Imagine a river that appears calm on the surface but is actually channeling powerful currents beneath—this is the subtle yet alarming reality of Indonesia’s military now.