Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Amnesty International Indonesia has criticized the deployment of military personnel during an ongoing corruption investigation, warning that it could undermine civilian authority and the rule of law.
Usman Hamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said the presence of dozens of Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel around the residence of Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah and at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters raised serious concerns about military involvement in civilian law enforcement.
Amnesty warns of erosion of civilian supremacy
"The military's involvement in law enforcement, as seen in the deployment around the residence of Jampidsus Febrie Adriansyah, raises serious concerns about the erosion of civilian supremacy, the rule of law, and human rights," Usman said in a written statement on July 9.
The criticism came after police investigators searched 12 locations on July 8 as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in coal governance, a case authorities believe contributed to disruptions in coal supplies and power outages in several regions.
According to Amnesty, the incident should not be viewed merely as institutional friction between security agencies but as a potential sign of military intervention in a civilian legal process.
Usman argued that the military's presence could be perceived as an attempt to protect officials linked to the case and intimidate other law enforcement agencies.
"This damages the integrity and credibility of all institutions, including the police, the prosecution service, and especially the military," he said.
Questions over legal basis for military deployment
Amnesty also questioned the TNI's justification for deploying personnel under Presidential Regulation No. 66 of 2025 on the protection of prosecutors.
Usman said the use of military personnel in the midst of a police investigation could signal a broader trend of remilitarization in civilian affairs.
"The military has no jurisdiction to intervene, especially if such actions impede civilian judicial processes," he said.
He added that the military's involvement appeared to blur the separation between the TNI's defense role and the responsibilities of civilian law enforcement agencies, including the police and the Attorney General's Office.
Calls for transparency in coal corruption probe
Usman emphasized that the alleged corruption case has significant public implications, as it is suspected of contributing to electricity shortages affecting communities in several parts of Indonesia.
He argued that such disruptions could constitute violations of the public's right to an adequate standard of living, a right protected under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which Indonesia ratified through Law No. 11 of 2005.
"Considering the scale of public losses, law enforcement in this case must proceed transparently, objectively, and free from obstruction and intervention," he said.
Usman also called for greater transparency regarding the deployment of military personnel, saying the public has the right to know why soldiers were involved in the case.
Authorities deny military interference
Earlier this week, dozens of soldiers were seen guarding Febrie's residence in South Jakarta while police conducted searches related to the coal corruption investigation. Police also searched a luxury house in Sentul, Bogor, reportedly linked to the deputy attorney general.
Later, dozens of uniformed TNI personnel were reported to have visited the headquarters of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Special Criminal Investigation Directorate in the early hours of Thursday.
The Attorney General's Office denied that the military presence was connected to the police searches. Similar denials were issued by the National Police and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police.
Meanwhile, TNI headquarters said the deployment at Febrie's residence was carried out at the request of the Attorney General's Office under Presidential Regulation No. 66 of 2025, which provides security protection for prosecutors carrying out their duties.
The military also denied reports that its personnel arrived at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters while carrying weapons.