Indonesia's Military Faces Civil Society Demands and Ammunition Depot Explosion

Civil society groups in Indonesia have demanded the revocation of a policy that allows the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to take part in taxpayer compliance monitoring. The coalition, which includes Amnesty International Indonesia and other NGOs, warned that involving village security officers (Babinsa) blurs the line between civilian administration and military authority and could intimidate vulnerable communities. They issued five demands, chiefly calling for the immediate removal of the Babinsa role from tax supervision and for a review of the related circular from the Directorate General of Taxes.

Separately, an explosion at the TNI AD Ammunition Warehouse II in Saradan District, Madiun Regency, East Java, killed one soldier and injured six others. The blast occurred during routine inspection and maintenance of ammunition, and the cause remains under investigation. The site has been secured, and the DPR’s Commission I has asked for a transparent inquiry and a reassessment of the warehouse’s proximity to residential areas.