I

n the apparent absence of transparency and close media scrutiny, the government has continued with its plan to set up Defense Ministry offices in each of the country’s 34 provinces.

The controversial establishment of regional offices at the provincial level was only uncovered on Wednesday when the administration of Riau Islands province disclosed that the ministry’s local office had been attached to the province’s Regional Leadership Communication Forum (FKPD) for the last two months. The local office has also carried out its program related to defense in the province.

Riau Islands administration spokesman Raja Hery Mokhrizal said he had learned about the operation of the local defense office in April.

“It has also been part of the FKPD, as it is a communication forum for regional leaders and vertical institutions assigned in Riau Islands,” he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Raja said he had not been briefed regarding the role or function of the local defense office and since when it had begun operations in the province.

The ministry’s plan to open regional offices was known to the public late last month following the leak of an official letter from Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu to Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo requesting that the latter assign soldiers to be deployed to take charge of the regional offices.

The ministry plans to assign one-star generals to run its offices in Aceh, East Java, East Kalimantan, Jakarta, Papua, Riau Islands and West Kalimantan. Other offices in the remaining provinces will be under the leadership of colonels.

Ryamizard’s plan to deploy active soldiers to run the new offices has faced opposition from House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense because the retired Army general is deemed to be simply renewing a proposal by his predecessor, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, who failed to convince lawmakers of its worth the first time around.

Commission I chairman Mahfudz Siddiq, who has led Commission I since 2009, said that Purnomo had aborted the plan in 2012 right after failing to secure support from lawmakers during a hearing. There were no details presented to Commission I members then, as then defense minister Purnomo only outlined a rough plan.

Riau Islands regional defense office coordinator Col. Enjang Suryana, however, told the Post that regional defense offices had been present in the country’s 34 provinces since 2012.

“Only those not following news reports are unaware,” said Enjang.