Expanding Military Role, Imparsial Urges DPN to Return to Strategic Function

JAKARTA - Imparsial Director Ardi Manto highlighted the widespread role of the military in various civilian policies, ranging from involvement in the forest area enforcement task force (PKH) to the dynamics of the National Defense Council (DPN) role. He assessed that, in the current condition, the National Defense Council should be able to provide the President with appropriate strategic considerations, but its implementation is considered not optimal.

This was conveyed by Ardi in a discussion entitled "Assessing the Existence of the National Defense Council: Legal Political Perspectives, Civil Supremacy, and Institutional Governance" which was held by the Indonesian Youth Congress Central Board (DPP IYC) in Jakarta, Monday, May 4.

According to Ardi, the involvement of military forces in illegal mining operations, as in Bangka, is considered excessive. He cited the use of helicopters and land operations in handling that should be resolved through administrative steps and law enforcement by the relevant ministries.

"The crackdown on forest areas, especially illegal miners, should be enough with the government's firmness. There is no need to involve the military in full force," he said.

He reminded that this condition has the potential to shift the main focus of the TNI as a defense tool for the country. If it continues, the military's role is feared to expand into the civilian realm which is not its main mandate.

Furthermore, Ardi emphasized that the DPN should play a role in providing strategic input to strengthen the defense sector, including the development of the national defense industry, rather than encouraging military involvement in civilian programs such as food, village cooperatives, and forest area enforcement.

On the same occasion, defense observer Beni Sukadis highlighted the inconsistency of national defense policies in terms of history and regulation. He explained that Indonesia previously had a National Resilience Council (Wantanas) which functioned until the reform era.

According to Beni, the 1998 reform was an important point of change, including the separation of the TNI and Polri to strengthen military professionalism within the framework of national defense.

"The birth of Law Number 3 of 2002 concerning State Defense and Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI is the basis for strengthening the military's function which focuses on defense," he explained.

He added that in the State Defense Law, the establishment of the National Defense Council has actually been mandated to provide strategic policy advice and recommendations to the President.

However, Beni assessed that the problem arose in the aspect of supervision. He said that the DPR's supervision capacity, especially Commission I, in the last decade tended to decline, one of which was due to limited understanding of defense issues.

"The impact is that the control function over defense policy is not optimal," he said.

The discussion emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between strengthening the national defense system and the principles of civilian supremacy, transparency, and accountability in institutional governance.