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fter the political reforms that have sent soldiers back to their barracks over the last 14 years, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is no longer involved in practical politics.

With the separation of the police (as the fourth service), there is a much clearer division of labor between the military, whose domain is strictly national defense, and the police, who are responsible for law and order.

Now that the work of the army goes largely unreported, many people have been curious as to what it actually does.

In line with the duty of the TNI to carry out territorial development, disseminating a national defense concept is one of the activities intensively pursued by the Siliwangi Military Command, which oversees West Java and Banten. “We must encourage young people to be the nation’s guardians and help protect the nation from malign external influences, as well as from certain groups within, including terrorist groups,” Siliwangi Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Muhammad Munir told The Jakarta Post.

Munir made his remarks after the country was shocked by the suicide bombings at the Adz-Dzikro Mosque, located within the Cirebon City Police headquarters in West Java and the Bethel Injil Sepuluh Church in Kepunten, Surakarta, Central Java.

The perpetrators were identified as Muhammad Syarif and Ahmad Yosepa Hayat, both from Cirebon. Their involvement in terrorism was put down to various factors, such as their lack of information and understanding of what the nation stands for.

“I take the terrorism issue in West Java very seriously because children are involved. In the medium term, we must inculcate them with a desire to defend the country, so they will reject any teaching which endangers their nation,” he said.

Munir added that the Siliwangi Military Command was working together with Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) in his territory. “It is a mutual approach between us and the pesantren, especially as West Java is home to around 8,100 pesantren, and not just Al-Zaytun,” he said.

The Al-Zaytun pesantren in Indramayu, West Java, became the focus of media attention because of claims it promoted separatism through its alleged connection with the Indonesia Islamic State (NII) movement.

“We went to Al-Zaytun to provide education on national defense. We empowered organizations, such as district and regency military commands which are closer to them. They will provide counseling in their respective areas. In principle, we teach the pesantren students about the meaning of national defense. We also provide them with an understanding of the Pancasila state ideology, the Constitution and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity], which sustain the unity of the nation,” said Munir.

Munir further said that one of the challenges faced by his military command in carrying out its tasks in West Java and Banten was the huge population. “West Java is the most densely populated province in Indonesia with at least 42 million people,” he said.

Separately, the Bukit Barisan Military Command, overseeing North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau and Riau Islands, is reportedly stepping up security on remote islands located within Indonesian maritime territory to prevent other parties from trying to control them.

According to data made available to the Post, there are 25 outer islands within the Bukit Barisan Military Command.

However, special attention has been given to three of them — Berhala Island in Serdang Bedagai regency, North Sumatra; Nipah Island in Batam and Sekatung Island in Natuna, Riau Islands. The three islands have been tightly secured by TNI troops, especially Nipah Island, which is close to Singapore.

Bukit Barisan Military Command spokesman Col. Halilintar said the TNI was constantly putting troops on standby to maintain security, especially in areas within the command’s jurisdiction. Halilintar added the TNI would defend Indonesian sovereign territory at all costs.

“Our duty is to protect the nation,” Halilintar told the Post recently.

He said the TNI also had a duty to assist police in maintaining peace and stability in the country and a social responsibility to unite the nation.