Indonesia is poised to appoint a senior military officer with a past conviction for human rights violations to a top position in the finance ministry, highlighting a growing trend of military influence in civilian governance. The appointment represents one of the most prominent instances of a military figure taking a civilian government role since a recent legal change permitted such placements, raising concerns about democratic backsliding in the Southeast Asian nation.
The officer, Lieutenant General Djaka Budhi Utama, is expected to assume leadership of the customs and excise division within the finance ministry’s revenue department. In the 1990s, Utama served in the army’s special forces under the command of now-President Prabowo Subianto. During that period, several officers in the elite unit were implicated in the kidnapping and disappearance of pro-democracy activists. Utama was among those convicted in a military court for his role in the abductions and was sentenced to one year and four months in prison. However, it remains unclear whether he served the sentence, and he continued his military career despite the conviction.
The move comes just months after the government passed legislation legitimising the assignment of active-duty military personnel to civilian roles. The law was met with sharp criticism from human rights organisations, who warned that it could erode hard-won democratic reforms and blur the lines between civilian and military authority.
Utama’s appointment is particularly controversial because he remains an active member of the armed forces. Under the new law, appointments of military personnel to civilian roles in various government ministries, including finance, are expected to be made only after retirement from military service. The decision to appoint someone with a military background to a technical economic role has raised eyebrows among analysts and experts.
Critics argue that the role of customs and excise chief requires deep expertise in trade policy, border regulation, and economic management—areas where military training may not provide adequate preparation. Observers have questioned how a background in security operations would equip Utama to navigate the complex fiscal and administrative demands of customs regulation.
Human rights advocates see the appointment as a troubling sign of regression in a country that once took decisive steps to reform after the fall of the Suharto dictatorship in 1998. They argue that assigning individuals with questionable human rights records to key positions in civilian governance undermines accountability and signals tolerance of impunity.
Beyond ethical and legal considerations, the appointment has also sparked practical concerns over governance effectiveness. Appointing individuals without the requisite technical expertise to critical financial institutions could weaken oversight and policy implementation in areas vital to national revenue collection and trade enforcement.
The growing presence of military figures in civilian posts coincides with the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, a former general himself, who has faced similar allegations of human rights abuses during his military tenure. Though never formally charged, he was dismissed from the military following the same crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the late 1990s. His presidency has raised questions about the future trajectory of Indonesia’s civil-military relations and the resilience of its democratic institutions.
The decision to place a convicted military figure at the helm of a crucial department within the finance ministry may be emblematic of broader shifts underway in Indonesia—shifts that have reignited debates over justice, accountability, and the enduring influence of the military in the post-Suharto era.
