Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesian soldiers will be mobilised to take control of the situation should next year's elections "turn bloody", the army's top officer has warned.

The remarks by the Army Chief of Staff, General Ryamizard Ryacudu, has rekindled talk about the military seeking to reassert itself in domestic politics.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony to commemorate the army's 58th anniversary on Monday, he said: "The elections are a party for democracy, and the people themselves have the responsibility of safeguarding that process. But we don't want to see this party turn bloody, or the nation's children to clash for the sake of the ambitions of certain groups. If that happens, soldiers will have to take matters into their own hands."

The general did not elaborate about which "certain groups" he was referring to, or specify what kinds of circumstances would spark the army's mobilisation.

He dismissed reporters' questions about a potential coup d'etat by the military, saying: "The army has no such desires. Only people who want to insult our soldiers would think the army wants to take over."

Gen Ryamizard's comments raised questions about the army's understanding of its role in national security after the formal separation of the police from the military two years ago.

Indonesia's laws stipulate that the police, not soldiers, have jurisdiction over domestic security. Troops are to be kept in reserve status and would be allowed to act only through a presidential decree or at the request of the police leadership.

Political analyst Arbi Sanit said Gen Ryamizard's comments reflected a "worst-case scenario". "That's the military's habit – to presume the worst," he said.

But other observers noted that such statements reflected the "eagerness" of the military to project the image of being the ultimate arbiter of security matters in Indonesia.

Mr Arbi said: "Times have changed. The military is very important to the defence of the nation, but gun-toting soldiers have no place any more in our city streets. Military officials say they understand this, but at times, their comments and actions suggest they still think they should be in charge."

Mr Umar Juoro of the Centre for Information and Development Studies said that the relationship between soldiers and police officers had been deteriorating since the latter became an independent body, and comments like Gen Ryamizard's might make things worse.

He said: "Just look at the conflicts between soldiers and policemen. They're growing, and not improving." There have been several clashes between the two camps. The latest, a shoot-out at a police station in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, last week, left a soldier dead and two policemen wounded. The cause of the shoot-out was a minor traffic accident in which a member of the local army corps was the victim.

"There is serious competition – for resources, prestige and power – between the two groups. This is not good for the civilian leadership," Mr Umar added.