Indonesia Sends 20,000 Troops to Jakarta After Police Generals Arrested
The massive deployment follows the detention of three senior officers, including the presidential chief of staff, in a probe into illegal wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto.
By Luca Harrison ·
Indonesia’s military has moved more than 20,000 personnel to the capital, Jakarta, in a rapid security buildup following the detention of three senior police generals. The deployment marks a significant escalation in the nation’s response to a scandal involving alleged illegal surveillance of the sitting president.
Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan, the navy operations assistant, confirmed that the total number of deployed personnel stands at 20,980. The first phase of the operation began on Monday with 2,100 staff from units already based in Jakarta. Additional troops from marine and navy units, training centers, and naval bases in Java and Lampung province arrived on Wednesday. Sofiyan stated that 13,140 more personnel remain on standby, ready to join the effort if conditions require it.
The security push coincides with a high-profile investigation into unauthorized wiretapping. Indonesian police detained three senior generals on Sunday. The suspects are Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, the presidential chief of staff, along with police generals Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Eko Hadi Santoso. Police announced the detentions late Tuesday during a televised news conference.
The allegations state that the suspects ordered wiretaps between 2025 and 2026 without following proper procedures. During this period, Listyo served as Indonesia's police chief. The suspects are also accused of ordering the deletion of files containing intercepted communications in late October. Police believe the deletion was an attempt to conceal evidence of the operation.
The presidential office has framed the incident as a matter of national security. Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi told reporters on Wednesday that surveillance of the head of state could endanger the nation. He stated that the conduct could be considered leading toward treason because it puts sensitive state interests at risk. The government is waiting for the police investigation to conclude before determining the specific motives of the suspects.
Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas, the armed forces spokesperson, described the troop movement as standard procedure. He said the military must always be prepared to protect the nation and safeguard the integrity of the Republic. Nas did not link the deployment directly to the wiretapping probe, though authorities have not ruled out a connection.
The case has raised questions about who benefited from the surveillance. Bambang Rukminto, a police analyst at the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies, noted that wiretapping a sitting president is distinct from monitoring business or political figures. He argued that intimidation is not a plausible motive when the target is the head of state. Rukminto urged investigators to identify the intended use of the intercepted information and the parties with an interest in obtaining it.
Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist at the University of Indonesia, suggested the surveillance may have served interests outside the police force. He stated there is a strong suspicion that the operation was conducted for other parties. Meliala added that if the allegations are proven, the case could be viewed as political maneuvering. He noted that those engaged in politics must be prepared to face political consequences.
The three suspects face charges related to unlawful interception, recording, and monitoring of nonpublic electronic communications. These charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. The suspects have not responded publicly to the allegations.
