Academics Warn of Remilitarization in Indonesia Under Prabowo

Academics, activists, and civil society members convened at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, expressing deep anxieties about the perceived decline of democracy under President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The consolidation, titled "Republic Conference Strengthening Civil Society Pillar of the Republic," focused on several critical issues including economic inequality, a crisis of representation, and institutional weaknesses. However, a primary concern highlighted was the "remilitarization" of the country, which participants see as a significant threat to democratic principles. Sociologist Arie Sujito described the meeting as an "accumulation of academic and activist anxieties" stemming from economic and political crises. He emphasized the need for academics, activists, and journalists to consolidate and prevent further democratic deterioration. Sujito noted that while democratization has faced pressures and fluctuations over the past three decades, current challenges are more complex and often operate within formal legal structures, leading to what political scientists identify as democratic regression marked by neo-authoritarian practices. Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, head of the Indonesia 2045 Laboratory, specifically pointed to the military's subtle re-entry into public life. She cited presidential regulations and instructions that allow the Indonesian National Military (TNI) to engage in activities beyond its constitutional mandate as a defense force. Pramodhawardani warned that the presence of combat battalions and territorial construction battalions, deviating from their core function, encroaches on civilian domains and hinders institutional development, ultimately threatening democracy.

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Let's not allow democracy to further deteriorate. Academics, activists, organization activists, and critical journalists need to continue to consolidate.