A public discussion in Jakarta on June 4, 2026, examined plans by the Defense Ministry to form Territorial Development Battalions.
BINUS University business law lecturer Muhammad Reza Syarifuddin Zaki warned of military expansion into civilian sectors. He said the new battalion formation risks taking over functions of technical ministries. AJI chairwoman Nany Afrida expressed concerns over impacts in agrarian areas. She argued that troop presence could heighten natural resource conflicts and restrict press freedom. Researcher Gian Kasogi reported resident rejections in Aceh, Papua, East Java, Central Java and South Sulawesi. He noted patterns of agrarian conflicts and lack of public consultation from January to May 2026.
