Ismira Lutfia, Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Agus Triyono & Ezra Sihite – The government has denied using military force to contain recent protests against a fuel price hike, saying troops were deployed only to protect key buildings and facilities.

Djoko Suyanto, the coordinating minister for political, legal and defense affairs, said the military had not confronted demonstrators. "The military was not involved in the handling of demonstrations," Djoko said. "Military personnel only stood near vital objects where a potential threat existed."

Past experience with protests, Djoko added, shows that protecting the State Palace and public facilities such as airports and toll booths is prudent in potentially volatile situations.

"[The military] didn't take over the police's role. There's a law prohibiting that," he said. "Under the law, the military must help the National Police in situations and conditions where it's necessary."

Protestors held up traffic as they marched to the State Palace on Wednesday, as Jakarta was hosting several high-profile guests including United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and former Philippine President Fidel Ramos for the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue.

Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said the soldiers deployed during the rally were there only as a preventive measure to keep demonstrators from approaching the palace.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) condemned the deployment of military personnel during the demonstration, saying it was a violation of the law and a dangerous precedent.

Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar said the law clearly stated that deployment of the military was an extreme measure that required lawmakers' approval. "The involvement of the military in the anti-fuel price hike demo is haram – illegal," Haris said. "This is a threat to democracy."

He said the government should have used a peaceful approach toward engaging the protesters, given that the new fuel policy would affect the general public.

Kontras urged lawmakers to strongly protest the government's use of the military in curbing demonstrations. "Lawmakers should at least warn the military to not get itself involved in handling anti-fuel price hike rallies," Haris said.

The chairman of the Kontras board of advisors, Usman Hamid, said the move was evidence of the government's panicked response to dissent. He said military deployment wasn't necessary because the largely peaceful fuel demonstrations posed no threat to the country.