Indonesia’s proposal to train civil servants as members of the National Reserve is facing criticism amid concerns it could lead to the militarization of the country’s bureaucracy.
National Reserve Training Sparks Debate
The Ministry of Defence is considering training 4,000 civil servants as part of the National Reserve, and has also suggested potentially designating all five million civil servants as part of the reserve force. Critics warn this move could shift Indonesia’s civilian bureaucracy toward a more militarized posture.
Understanding the MNRS Defence Law
The plan is being evaluated in the context of national defence policy, civil-military relations, and bureaucratic reform. It also raises questions about the interpretation of citizens’ constitutional obligation to participate in national defence, and the application of the Management of National Resources for State Defence (UU PSDN) Law 2019.
The MNRS Defence Law outlines five mechanisms for managing national resources for defence: bela negara (civic education), structuring of supporting components, formation of the national reserve, strengthening of the main component, and mobilisation and demobilisation. The law prioritizes bela negara, emphasizing civic awareness and national resilience.
Civil servants are classified as Supporting Components under the law, not reserve troops. Article 20 paragraph 1 letter d of the MNRS Defence Law places civil servants among “other citizens as elements of the citizenry.” These Supporting Components are to be developed through “socialisation, technical guidance, and/or simulations,” not military-style training.
While the law allows citizens—including civil servants—to volunteer for the National Reserve, it does not envision a blanket designation of all civil servants as reserve troops. Participation must be voluntary.
The National Reserve as a Compromise
The National Reserve was introduced as an alternative to mandatory military service, which Indonesia ultimately chose not to adopt. Article 30 of the Constitution states that every citizen has the right and obligation to participate in national defence and security.
The MNRS Defence Law organizes national defence resources into three parts: the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) as the Main Component, the National Reserve comprised of civilian volunteers undergoing military training, and the Supporting Components, which include institutions, resources, and citizens contributing through non-military roles.
The obligation for citizens to participate in national defence becomes binding only during emergencies or declared mobilisation. Outside of these conditions, participation is voluntary.
Concerns Over Blurring Civilian and Military Lines
Civil society organizations, legal experts, and some lawmakers have expressed concern that involving civil servants in the National Reserve could blur the line between civilian and military spheres. They emphasize that civil servant involvement must not be coercive and must not disrupt public services.
Military training emphasizes hierarchy, command structures, and obedience, values that differ from civilian governance principles of accountability, transparency, and public service. Military-style training could reshape the culture of Indonesia’s civil service, reinforcing rigidity and hindering reform.
Analysts note that expanding the National Reserve could strengthen the “dual-function” doctrine used during the Soeharto regime, which allowed the military to engage in both civilian and military affairs. Concerns also exist regarding the increasing placement of military officers in civilian positions, representing a form of civilian militarization.
Indonesia’s post-Reformasi era aimed to dismantle the dual-function doctrine and restore clear boundaries between civilian and military domains. Any proposal to mandate civil servant participation in the national reserve requires careful reconsideration. The public expects civil servants to work professionally, uphold integrity and honesty, and refrain from corruption.
The government should continue advancing bureaucratic reform. For civil servants, professional work and upholding good governance principles are themselves expressions of state defence, as mandated by the MNRS Defence Law.
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