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Military involvement necessary in Indonesia’s COVID-19 response: President's office
Activists and critics are concerned about the increasing role of the military in the country's pandemic response, particularly in the second year of the health crisis.
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Indonesian soldiers take part in a drill to boost security on the eve of Idul Fitri in Timika, Papua, on May 12, as Muslims mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. (AFP/Sevianto Pakiding)
T
he Executive Office of the President's undersecretary on human development, Abetnego Tarigan, said the Indonesian Military's (TNI) involvement was necessary and vital in the country's COVID-19 response, as calls to reduce military roles in civilian affairs grew from activists.
Abetnego said TNI roles in the distribution of vaccine supplies and medical equipment remained critical, particularly in ensuring equal distribution of vaccines to remote regions across the vast archipelago.
"The TNI has the necessary resources, established networks and facilities across the country to deliver the [vaccines] in a timely manner, and the government does not have to spend a lot of money and time to recruit new workers," he said in a virtual public discussion last week.
He added that the deployment of military medical personnel to vaccinate the public had also helped improve vaccination rates, particularly in regions that suffered vaccine shortages due to political differences. Without naming the regions, he said many provincial administrations had refused to distribute vaccines to certain regencies or cities because they shared different political views.
And because Indonesians often disregarded health rules, military intervention was necessary and important to ensure the public followed protocols, he said.
He cited as an example the millions of people who still went on mudik (exodus) during the Idul Fitri holiday season despite a government ban. The poor public compliance with COVID-19 curbs became a catalyst for the ensuing surge of infections that has devastated Indonesia for the past several months.
Activists and critics, including from independent data initiative LaporCOVID-19 and the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), are concerned about the increasing role of the military in the country's pandemic response, particularly in the second year of the health crisis.
