Minister Pigai: TNI, Polri Placement in Civil Roles Not Govt Policy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai addressed concerns over the growing presence of Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) personnel in civilian posts, saying the practice stems from initiatives by individual ministries and agencies rather than directives from the national leadership.

“This has never been the position or policy of the government. It has never come from the leadership. When ministers, regional heads, governors, regents, mayors, or agency leaders bring TNI and Polri personnel into civilian roles, that is their own initiative. They are the ones who invite them,” Pigai said at his office on Monday, May 4, 2026.

He described the trend as an excessive or overstretched decision by institutional leaders, noting that some ministries and agencies have gone beyond reasonable limits in appointing TNI and Polri personnel to strategic civilian positions.

According to Pigai, officials at the ministerial and regional levels have increasingly recruited military and police personnel to serve as directors general, directors, expert staff, and even special staff within government institutions.

“Ministerial officials, agency heads, governors, regents, and mayors are overextending this practice, inviting them to serve as directors general, directors, expert staff, and special staff,” he said.

Pigai emphasized that his own ministry does not employ TNI or Polri personnel in its structure, and he noted that he has never received any reprimand from higher authorities for maintaining that stance.

“Because I have never been reprimanded by the leadership, I am convinced that these invitations come from each respective institution and its leadership,” he said.

He also sought to correct what he described as a public misconception that the central government is actively encouraging the placement of military and police officers in civilian roles. Instead, he stressed that the initiative lies with individual institutions that open the door and recruit them for such positions.

“I think this needs to be conveyed more frequently to the public, that there has never been a government intention to push TNI and Polri into the civilian sphere,” he said.

Read: Indonesia Proposes 'Right to Be Forgotten' Clause in Human Rights Law Revision

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