Indonesia has inaugurated six regional military commands (Kodam) to expand its armed forces’ administrative reach, while drawing scrutiny from civil society groups over potential military encroachment into civilian governance.
Announced by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, the restructuring adds headquarters across Yogyakarta, Riau Islands, East Nusa Tenggara, North Maluku, Central Papua, and West Nusa Tenggara.
The expansion brings the nationwide total of commands to 27, while incorporating 204 new units across the force.
Those units include 30 territorial development infantry brigades, 150 territorial development infantry battalions, and three combat support units.
Additional units are one marine brigade and four battalions under the Indonesian Navy, as well as 10 units, including a Rapid Action Forces division and radar sites, under the Indonesian Air Force.
‘Necessary’ Changes
Officials framed the expansion as an essential move to secure the Southeast Asian country’s archipelago and enhance disaster response capabilities.
“We deem adjustments necessary to ensure a more effective span of control, faster coordination, and optimal responses to evolve situations across regions,” said Brig. Gen. Donny Pramono, information service chief of the Indonesian Army.
“The establishment … is not merely about expanding the organisational structure, but also it forms part of efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the Army’s operational execution.”
Domestic Backlash
Rights groups and analysts criticized the expansion, warning it risks restoring Jakarta’s previous authoritarian regime by shadowing local civilian authorities.
“The inauguration of additional Kodam and hundreds of new [Indonesian Armed Forces] units is increasingly eroding the civilian sphere and forming the militarization of government as a command state,” Asia News Network quoted Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation Chairman Muhamad Isnur as saying.
More experts questioned the overhaul, pointing to a lack of immediate security threats in the newly targeted regions.
“In my view, this new Kodam lands as a militarization attempt because their territorial structures correspond with civilian administrative areas and could allow the military to ‘shadow’ civilian bureaucracies,” Indonesia Institute for Defense and Strategic Studies Analyst Rizal Darma Putra told The Jakarta Post.