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t has been a challenging year for the Indonesian Military (TNI) with several of its personnel allegedly involved in violence against civilians in various regions, leaving some people seriously injured.

So it was unsurprising that while the TNI celebrated its 71st anniversary on Wednesday, civil groups staged protests against the military’s violent approach to civilian affairs.

During the Wednesday celebrations, TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo emphasized that the military’s strength relied on the people, creating a military-people synergy and forming a state defense force not found in other countries.

The celebrations featured the tagline: “With the people, the TNI will be powerful, mighty, professional and ready to realize a sovereign, autonomous Indonesia with a strong character.”

“This is the true character of the TNI that must not be eroded during the era of globalization,” Gatot said.

Despite Gatot’s statement that the TNI existed for the people, civil groups appeared unimpressed, emphasizing that military personnel had committed violence against civilians.

In Banyumas, Central Java, a group of journalists denounced violent acts committed by TNI members against media workers in Madiun, East Java, on Sunday.

They staged a rally in Purwokerto’s town square, urging the TNI chief to punish the perpetrators.

“We want those who committed violence against Net TV journalist Soni Misdananto to be taken to court,” journalist Saladin Ayubi said during the rally.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Purwokerto chapter chairman Aris Andrianto said soldiers should protect citizens and not act arbitrarily against them.

He added that the TNI commander must investigate allegations of violence committed by his personnel.

Soni was reportedly assaulted by members of the Bajra Yudha Airborne Infantry Battalion in Madiun on Sunday while covering a traffic accident that allegedly involved members of a martial arts school and residents of Taman district in Madiun. His journalistic equipment was damaged.

Topan Pramukti, another journalist, said such violence could not be tolerated and must be immediately addressed so that similar cases did not occur. He called for a stop to violence against journalists, saying their work was protected by Law No. 40/1999 on media.

In Gorontalo, more than 20 journalists affiliated with AJI and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) staged a peaceful rally at the Gorontalo Military Command, while boycotting the TNI’s 71st anniversary on Wednesday.

The action was a statement of solidarity with Madiun’s Net TV journalist Misdananto.

“As a national defense force, the TNI should be able to protect the country and the people, including we journalists who uphold freedom when carrying out our tasks as journalists,” said Gorontalo AJI head Debby Hariyanti Mano.

The AJI urged TNI leaders to impose disciplinary sanctions against perpetrators and provide assurances that the perpetrators would be prosecuted in accordance with the 1999 Press Law and the Criminal Code, because they had not only hindered the duties of the press, but had also committed abuse.

Gorontalo IJTI head Arlan Pakaya said Gorontalo journalists also rejected arrogance and repression from TNI members and supported all victims of violence undertaking legal processes until perpetrators were brought to justice.

Another case of violence against journalists was seen earlier on Aug. 15 when at least three journalists in Medan, North Sumatra, were assaulted by Air Force personnel while covering a clash between Air Force members and local residents.

A female journalist was left traumatized after allegedly being sexually harassed and attacked by Air Force members.

Apriadi Gunawan from Medan also contributed to this story.