tudents in major cities across the nation beyond Jakarta staged rallies this week to voice their opposition to various policies, from the encroachment of the Indonesian Military (TNI) into civilian affairs to the flagship free nutritious meal program.
In North Sumatra capital Medan, members of the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) rallied on Wednesday in front of Military District Command (Kodim) 0201/Medan. They burned tires and unfurled a banner demanding the return of civilian supremacy.
Damses Sianturi, chairman of the GMNI’s Medan chapter, said the TNI’s current role had gone far beyond its primary role in national defense.
Damses also urged the military leadership to not allow the use of soldiers as a tool by those in power to intimidate civil society and fill civilian posts.
“These are the reasons why we are protesting in front of the Kodim 0201/Medan headquarters,” he said.
“We demand that the military return to the barracks and allow the military to return to its defense function, no longer dragged into the realm of government.”
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
Damses pointed to the TNI’s involvement in the free meals, Sekolah Rakyat (community school) and the Red and White Cooperative programs as the most jarring examples of military interference in civilian affairs.
