April 29, 2025
JAKARTA – The Higher Education, Science and Technology Ministry has downplayed public concerns that the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) involvement in university teaching could stifle academic freedom and student expression.
The ministry’s secretary general, Togar Mangihut Simatupang, made the remarks following backlash over statements by higher education minister Brian Yuliarto, who said there was no issue with military collaboration in academic settings, including the potential for TNI personnel to serve as guest lecturers.
Togar emphasized that the country’s campuses remain open and guided by Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi (the core values of higher education): Education, research and community service.
The military’s presence in universities would be limited to sharing insights on national defense and defense technology, not curbing academic or political discourse, he said, adding that today’s open information era allows all groups to interact with academic communities within a scientifically validated framework.
Togar also dismissed concerns that involving the TNI in campus activities would lead to the normalization of military power in academic spaces, calling such fears unfounded.
“Concerns about such normalization are exaggerated. Today, all groups have equal opportunities to grow, the openness of information ensures broad public oversight and accountability,” he said on Sunday, as reported by tempo.co.
Read also: TNI presence on campus stokes fears of shrinking civic space
Instead, Togar argued, a more pressing concern is the erosion of national spirit among younger generations. He emphasized that while campuses should protect freedom of expression, this must be channeled through constructive and purposeful means, not through reckless or counterproductive behavior.
Rasminto, executive director of the Human Studies Institute (HSI), echoed Togar’s sentiments. He described opposition to the military’s presence in academic institutions as a false dichotomy rooted in outdated assumptions no longer relevant in a modern context.
He pointed to examples such as Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden, countries that consistently rank high in global competitiveness, where collaboration between the education sector and the military has helped foster strong civic values, public discipline and national pride.
However, public skepticism over military involvement in higher education remains strong. The Student Executive Body (BEM) at Udayana University in Bali, for instance, has rejected a proposed cooperation agreement between the university and the Indonesian Army’s IX/Udayana Military Command.
“This rejection reflects our concern over the creeping militarization of educational institutions, which should remain neutral and free from sectoral influence,” said BEM Udayana chairman I Wayan Arma Surya Darmaputra in a written statement last month.
Arma warned that military involvement could compromise the autonomy of higher education.
“The lack of clarity surrounding the implementation of this agreement raises serious questions, particularly regarding the scope of military authority and its implications for academic freedom and institutional independence,” he added.