Indonesian Army Claims Presence on Campuses is Not Militarization Effort

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April 21, 2025 | 09:11 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Information Services of the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana responded to a number of incidents involving the presence of soldiers in campuses. According to him, the arrival of military personnel, especially from the army, was due to invitations or the existence of legitimate cooperation agreements.

According to Wahyu, the invitation usually takes the form of educational material provided by the military to the academic community on campus. He believes that there is no militarization effort in the activities of the military in the campus environment.

"The presence of TNI AD on campus is based on legitimate cooperation principles, is educational in nature, and is carried out upon invitation or coordination with the campus authorities," said Wahyu in a written statement on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

He pointed out the incident of the TNI entering the University of Indonesia campus. The incident occurred when a number of students were consolidating at the UI Student Activity Center on Wednesday, April 16.

Wahyu said the presence of soldiers at UI was upon an invitation sent by a student to Dandim Depok Iman Widhiarto. He claimed that they had known each other. "On several occasions, the Dandim and the student often met in non-formal activities," he said.

Wahyu also addressed the incident of the arrival of Babinsa at the UIN Walisongo Semarang campus. According to him, the presence of Babinsa in the campus environment is part of territorial duties. "It is routinely done because the area is under the supervision of the respective Babinsa," he said.

He said the TNI AD is part of the people whose duty is to maintain national stability. This includes, he said, establishing good relations with all elements of the nation, including academics and students.

The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform considers the actions of TNI soldiers attending several student activities on campus as terror and an attempt to intimidate student movements besides violating academic freedom. "This is a tangible form of infiltration," said coalition member from YLBHI Muhammad Isnur in a short voice message on Saturday, April 19, 2025.

He reminded that the TNI Law passed by the DPR does regulate the duties of the TNI in non-war military operations. However, campus infiltration is not included in these provisions.

According to him, what the TNI is doing by suddenly attending student activities not only violates academic freedom, but also violates the new TNI Law.

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