Utut Adianto, the Head of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, raised concerns about the need to reorganize military areas that are currently considered too close to civilian settlements. According to him, this situation can hinder the strategic functions of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), especially in emergency situations or military operations.
“Honestly, moving forward, we need to fix this. For example, the TNI should be far away from civilian communities,” said Utut at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (May 14, 2025). He cited the conditions at several military bases that are currently surrounded by civilian activities.
“If you go to the Main Headquarters, all you see are food stalls. And at the Cilodong Brigade, Brigade one, that’s it. If something happens in Jakarta, troops need to move, tanks need to come out, but they can’t because there are food stalls in front, motorcycle taxi stands,” he said.
Utut emphasized that such a situation is a strategic challenge that needs to be addressed promptly. He reminded that military areas used to be forests or open spaces, but now they have evolved into residential areas and economic activities for the community.
“Now, this is something we need to strategize for in the future. Back then, those areas were forests. The state needs to step in,” he said. Utut also mentioned the incident of expired ammunition destruction in Garut, which resulted in civilian casualties.
“Well, everywhere you go, military installations should be far from the people. It’s not about isolating oneself, but it’s about ensuring that certain areas are sterile,” he said. “This kind of thing, like what happened in Garut, is one example. Let me give you an example from 1984 in the Marines, back when it was called KKO. It exploded, and the explosion lasted for hours,” he concluded.
A total of four Indonesian Army soldiers and nine civilians died in the incident of destroying expired explosive materials in Sagara Village, Cibalong District, Garut Regency, West Java on Monday morning (May 12, 2025). The four soldiers who died in the incident were Colonel Cpl Antonius Hirmawan, Major Cpl Anda Rohanda, Kopda Eri Priambodo, and Pratu Apriu Seriawan. The nine civilians who lost their lives were Agus, Ipan, Anwar, Iyus, Iyusrizal, Toto, Rusdiawan, Dadang, and Endang.
Overall, Utut Adianto’s call for reorganizing military areas to maintain a safe distance from civilian settlements highlights the importance of strategic planning for the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It is crucial to address the challenges posed by the proximity of military installations to civilian activities to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the military in emergency situations or military operations. The incident in Garut serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences when military areas are not adequately protected from civilian populations.
