The Indonesian military is mobilising more than 20,000 troops to heighten security in Jakarta. Authorities are investigating three police generals over alleged wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto.
Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan, assistant chief of staff for operations of the Indonesian Navy, said about 5,700 troops from outside the capital were expected to arrive on Wednesday. This followed an initial deployment of about 2,100 personnel from units stationed in Jakarta on Monday. With an additional 13,140 personnel on standby, the total reinforcement plan involves 20,980 troops. This force includes marine and navy units, training centres, and naval bases from various Java provinces and Lampung.
Officials have not stated that the deployment is officially connected to the ongoing wiretapping investigation. Military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas told state news agency Antara that the troop deployment was standard procedure for maintaining national security and territorial integrity.
The security measures coincide with the arrest on Tuesday of former National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo and two other top police officials. Investigators accuse them of running a surveillance operation targeting the president, ministers, political leaders, media figures, and civil society leaders between 2025 and 2026.
Speaking at a news conference at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi described the alleged wiretapping as an extraordinary case carried out by a handful of rogue individuals that may amount to treason. He stated that sensitive information accessible through a head of state could endanger national security and sovereignty.
Hadi said President Prabowo was deeply concerned that an institution under his authority would engage in such actions. The president instructed the police chief to pursue the case thoroughly. Listyo has also been removed from his role as presidential chief of staff after holding the position for just over a month, following his removal as police chief on October 1.
Listyo and the two senior police officials, identified by investigators as ASN and EH, face potential prison terms of up to 10 years. Investigators have questioned 10 witnesses and three experts, while seizing 11 mobile phones, an iPad, and four flash drives.
Ray Rangkuti, a political analyst and founder of democracy watchdog Lingkar Madani, said the alleged wiretapping operations were most likely politically driven. He told reporters it could relate to governance, a power grab, or internal politics concerning positions within the national police.
Rangkuti viewed the incident as part of broader democratic backsliding in Indonesia. He pointed to recent legal revisions reducing the independence of anti-corruption agencies and Constitutional Court rulings facilitating political dynasticism.
Almost every level of state institutions has been compromised to serve the interests of those in power, Rangkuti said. He added that the president must ensure the case is thoroughly investigated and completely resolved so such incidents never happen again.
