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uman rights activists have criticized President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo for announcing that he would call on the Indonesian Military (TNI) to help the government stabilize the prices of staple foods.

Activists said the announcement could pave the way for the greater involvement of the TNI in civilian affairs, while the institution had yet to complete internal reforms to become more professional.

'€œThe idea of involving the TNI in stabilizing food prices could be in violation of Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI. It could also compromise efforts to make the TNI a professional force,'€ Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) researcher Wahyudi Djafar told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Wahyudin said that by thinking that the TNI could solve the problem of food price instability, the President could not be aware of the function of the TNI, which was to protect the country'€™s sovereignty.

'€œCivilians should not force the TNI to get involved in civilian matters while the institution is undergoing reform. If the government wants to involve the TNI, it should be based on a political decision instead of tactical needs,'€ he said.

He said that as the first president with no military background, Jokowi should be more resolute in maintaining civilian supremacy over the military.

'€œPresident Jokowi is the first civilian president that we have after the Reform Era. He should elevate civil supremacy and not depend on the TNI,'€ Wahyudi said.

Late last week, the President instructed leaders of the TNI and the National Police to help support the government'€™s priority development projects by, for example, helping with land acquisition to ensure the smooth start of projects.

Jokowi also called on the two institutions to help bring stability to staple food prices.

'€œAlso, [I also gave an instruction] about matters related to inflation and food prices. I have given orders [for the TNI and the police] to go to the field and see whether or not there are [price] differences or those playing tricks [to cheat on food prices or stock],'€ Jokowi said.

Jokowi also called on the two forces to help crack down on the rampant practice of charging illegal fees, especially in the distribution of basic foodstuff.

In recent years, the TNI has gradually expanded its influence in civilian life by signing agreements with ministries, allowing it to take on tasks such as distributing fertiliser and guarding prisons and public and private infrastructure.

Last year, the military signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to help with the country'€™s war on drugs, a campaign that is being driven by the President, who has in the past ordered the execution of foreign drug convicts. Al-Araf, an activist with human rights watchdog Imparsial, said the involvement of the TNI in stabilizing food prices was inappropriate.

'€œThe problem should be handled by the agriculture and trade ministries. If there is a '€˜mafia'€™ or cartel that creates price instability, it should be the police that handle the case, not the TNI,'€ al-Araf said.

Meanwhile, TB Hasanuddin of House of Representative Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and information, called on the government to review its plan to involve the TNI to stabilize food prices.

'€œBased on Article 7 of the 2004 TNI Law, there are 14 military tasks besides war, and stabilizing prices isn'€™t one of them,'€ TB Hasanuddin said.

He said there was also no regulation or procedure that would allow the TNI to monitor and stabilize food prices.
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