Ismira Lutfia – Analysts have encouraged a greater role for the military in peacetime and community-building activities as a way of developing a national sense of responsibility through the interaction of military and civilian groups.

"Within the context of a new democracy, military operations other than war can enhance mutual trust and interactions between military and civilian agencies and actors," Rizal Sukma, executive director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said at one of the sessions of the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue.

He said the partnership between the Armed Forces (TNI) and civilians in military operations other than war – or the use of military force in peacetime to deter war, resolve conflict, promote peace and support civil authorities in response to crisis – had been notably exercised since Indonesia made the transition to democratic rule in 1998 after three decades of authoritarian rule under former President Suharto.

Rizal added that the need for the military to engage in such exercises was even more evident in the reform era as the military's capacity became idle, while its personnel also still needed to develop their capacity in the face of equipment shortages and budgetary constraints.

Another panelist in the forum, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, agreed that defense establishments and armed forces needed to evolve and adapt.

"Our militaries are not primarily structured or configured for operations other than war," he said. "Today's armed forces would thus have to develop new concepts of operation and have the right force structure, training and equipping to respond adequately to counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping operations, counter-piracy and other non-traditional security challenges."

Air Marshal Daryatmo, the head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), said that under the 2004 Indonesian Armed Forces Law, the military had a crucial role in supporting relief operations.

However, to embark on an operation other than war, Rizal said the military must also secure the support of the public. "It should serve a national purpose and be in the public's interest, not for the narrow interest of the military," he said.

In his keynote address at the opening of the JIDD on Wednesday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the UN peacekeeping program set the international standard for military operations other than war.

"These missions provide tremendous value for money. Sixty years of peacekeeping have cost less than six weeks of current global military spending," Ban said.