Indonesia’s new President Prabowo Subianto Sparks Concerns Over Military expansion
Nearly three decades after the fall of Indonesia’s authoritarian leader, General Suharto, the nation’s new president, Prabowo Subianto, is causing unease among liberals and others by increasingly turning to the once-all-powerful military to carry out his governing vision. Critics point to Prabowo’s early actions as a worrying sign of his tendency to replace civilian functions with the military, raising comparisons to the Suharto-era doctrine of “dwifungsi” (dual function), which allowed the armed forces to crush dissent and dominate public life.
Just three months into office after a landslide election victory last year, Prabowo has quickly expanded the armed forces’ roles in several public areas, including running much of his flagship project to serve free school meals.His allies in parliament are also preparing legislation that would allow him to appoint active military officers into senior government positions, dismantling some of the safeguards put in place after Suharto was overthrown in 1998 following an economic crisis and popular uprising.
Prabowo’s resounding victory was largely driven by younger voters, a generation with little or no memory of Suharto’s military-backed “New Order” regime. A former son-in-law of Suharto, Prabowo was a special forces commander under his repressive 32-year reign and was later dismissed from the military amid unproven allegations of human rights abuses. Supporters of Prabowo, who has denied past rights abuses, say tapping the military for importent projects offers efficiencies.
However, critics see in Prabowo’s moves, including a recent expansion of military command structure, a worrying lurch towards re-militarisation in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country. “He’s not abiding by civil supremacy,” said analyst Yanuar Nugroho.“He instead wants to restore the glory of the military… were various kinds of civic-works can be done by the military, arguing it will be faster, more effective,” added Yanuar, a former deputy chief of presidential staff to Prabowo’s predecessor, Joko Widodo.
Although not replicating the “dual function” of the past, Prabowo’s early reliance on the military is raising concerns among Indonesian observers about the undoing of democratic reforms that sprang up after Suharto was ousted. “There’s a lot of aspects of the Prabowo administration that are seeking to replicate what existed under his former father-in-law Suharto,” said political analyst Kevin O’Rourke. “Restoring military roles in politics is one aspect.”
Under Suharto, there were no checks and balances, and the military was also involved in business. O’Rourke warned that the same pattern now could erode democratic oversight of government institutions, affecting policymaking.
Combat-Trained Cooks and Farmers
Prabowo,who had an 81% approval rating after his first 100 days in office,has wasted little time in handing over large projects to the armed forces as taking office. The moast visible example has been his $28 billion signature project to provide free school meals.
Air Force Colonel Satrya dharma Wijaya is a case in point. His usual job is aircraft maintenance, but sence November, he has been busy ordering stoves, refrigerators, and frying pans to cook meals for thousands of children at a time at a base in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.“This was previously a marshalling area where we prepared troops to deploy for an assignment,” said Satrya, wearing his short-sleeved blue uniform at Halim Perdanakusuma air base’s newly expanded kitchen.
The military was running 100 of the 190 kitchens operating by the project’s launch in collaboration with the newly formed National Nutrition Agency, cooking up and delivering food for 570,000 children on its opening day. Army chief General Maruli Simanjuntak said that a plan is underway for the military to form 100 additional kitchens to expand the program further.
| Key Points | Details |
|—————-|————-|
| President | Prabowo Subianto |
| Concerns | Military expansion, re-militarisation |
| Key Project | $28 billion free school meals program |
| Military Role | Running kitchens, potential senior government appointments |
| Critics’ View | Undoing democratic reforms, replicating Suharto-era policies |
as Prabowo continues to integrate the military into civilian roles, the debate over the balance between efficiency and democratic oversight intensifies. Will this approach lead to a more effective government, or will it erode the hard-won democratic reforms of the past? Only time will tell.Prabowo’s Military Expansion Raises Concerns over Democratic Backsliding in Indonesia
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s increasing reliance on the military to spearhead national projects has sparked fears of a return to the authoritarian practices of the Suharto era. Critics warn that the trend could lead to a weakening of civilian institutions and a centralization of power, raising alarms about “democratic backsliding.”
Military-Led Projects Expand Rapidly
As taking office, Prabowo has substantially expanded military-run initiatives, many of which were established during his tenure as defence minister. One such program involves soldiers clearing land for cultivation, which has been scaled up by 50-fold—from 60,000 hectares to a projected 3 million hectares, an area roughly the size of Belgium. This initiative aims to bolster Indonesia’s food security.
Additionally, Prabowo has directed the Air Force to convert idle land into rice and corn fields, managed jointly by soldiers and villagers, to support his free-meals project. Another military-led civil-works initiative, laying water pipes for plumbing and irrigation in remote areas, has also been extended nationwide.
Army Chief General Simanjuntak defended these measures, stating that the military’s strong chain of command ensures efficiency. “It’s impractical to return to the New Order (Suharto) era. there’s no way,” he told Reuters.
Legislation to Appoint Active Military Officers
A contentious issue is the upcoming legislation that would allow Prabowo to appoint active-duty military officers to top government positions for the first time in decades. The bill, prepared by Prabowo’s allies, is set to be deliberated in parliament, where his coalition controls 74% of seats.
Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, deputy speaker of parliament from Prabowo’s Gerindra party, argued that active officers are ideal for strategic roles due to their discipline and commitment. “These strategic programmes must be run by peopel who are disciplined, highly committed, and have been trained to be responsible,” he said.
Critics Warn of Democratic Erosion
However, even some former military leaders have expressed concerns. Retired Lt. Gen. Agus Widjojo, a key figure in post-Suharto military reforms, cautioned against giving the military unchecked authority.”Don’t give a blank check where soldiers could be placed at any posts. It will ruin the system,” he told Reuters.
Analyst Yanuar echoed these concerns,warning that the militarization trend under Prabowo could lead to a “democratic backsliding” and a concentration of power. “A strong president who is backed by a strong military with almost full control in the parliament,” Yanuar said. “This is similar to Suharto: military with dual function.”
key Concerns at a Glance
| Issue | Details |
|——————————–|—————————————————————————–|
| Military-Led Projects | land clearing, farming, and civil works expanded nationwide. |
| Legislation for Military Roles | Bill to allow active-duty officers in top government positions. |
| Democratic Backsliding | Fears of weakened civilian institutions and centralization of power. |
| Historical Parallels | Comparisons to Suharto’s military dual-function era. |
Looking Ahead
As Prabowo’s administration continues to integrate the military into civilian roles, the debate over the balance of power in Indonesia intensifies. Critics argue that while military efficiency may yield short-term gains, the long-term implications for democracy could be profound.For more updates on Indonesia’s political landscape, follow Tempo on Google News.
REUTERS | Ananda Teresia
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