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Nonwar military operations against pandemic under new TNI chief
Deploying soldiers in COVID-19 operations under the pretext of the TNI’s idle capacity sounds “too problematic” because in many aspects the TNI has yet to achieve its professional goals.
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An officer of a joint security team checks a car on Jl. Raya Puncak in Gadog, Bogor regency, West Java on Oct. 3, 2020. (Antara/Yulius Satria Wijaya)
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s soon as the COVID-19 pandemic struck Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo declared a health emergency, prompting his government to involve all elements of the nation, including the Indonesian Military (TNI), to contain the contagion. Indonesia is one of the countries to have deployed troops in nonwar military operations against the virus.
As of the end of May 2020, the government had deployed 340,000 military and police personnel to guard stringent virus control measures. During the deployment, the TNI helped distribute basic needs and medical supplies and vaccinate personnel and people against the virus. Most importantly, the TNI helped reinforce strict health protocols, such as mandatory mask wearing and physical distancing.
As the pandemic is subsiding, as shown in the low rates of new infection and death, a question may arise: What role will the newly appointed TNI commander Gen. Andika Perkasa play?
Noncompliance with health protocols was blamed for the skyrocketing coronavirus cases and deaths last year, prompting Jokowi to issue Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 6/2020 on the enforcement of COVID-19 health protocols in August 2020, in which violations are subject to punishments.
The Inpres offers sanction guidelines. However, defense experts and human rights activists mostly agree, it does not clearly formulate how the range and types of sanctions should be applied. Governors, regents and mayors are only mandated by the Inpres to coordinate with the TNI, the National Police, ministries and other related institutions. No wonder the Inpres is prone to abuse, hence human rights violation, they warn.
The pattern of civil-military coordination under the Inpres emulates the military operations other than war (MOOTW) conceptualized in TNI Law No. 34/2004. Article 7 (2) of the TNI Law says the TNI’s roles include assisting local governments and the National Police to maintain public order and security.
Apart from the TNI Law, three more regulations justify nonwar military operations, namely Law No. 24/2007 on disaster management, Law No. 3/2002 on state defense (through which the COVID-19 pandemic is categorized as a nonmilitary threat) and Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 23/1959 on a state of emergency. Under the Perppu, the government may get greater powers if during its fight against the pandemic, it encounters some specific emergency conditions such as armed conflicts, threats of violence and any situation that can endanger the nation.
