Indonesia's Democratic Model Under Siege: Implications for Southeast Asia

Strategic Insights -

The Indonesian National Police, also known as the Polri, has faced widespread criticism and protests for its $8.8 billion budget, which protesters claim embodies a corrupt and unaccountable system. This has led to a fundamental crisis of legitimacy for Indonesia's police force, which has been a pillar of the country's democratic model since the post-Suharto era. The protests have also raised questions about the region's nascent democracy, with Indonesia's ability to maintain its credentials as a model for democratic transition hanging in the balance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indonesian National Police's $8.8 billion budget has been the focal point of protests, which have escalated into full-blown attacks on the symbols of state order. (1)
  • The protests have highlighted the lack of trust in Indonesia's police force, with ordinary Indonesians questioning their legitimacy and accountability. (2)
  • The crisis cuts to the heart of Indonesia's democratic promise, with the country's ability to maintain its credentials as a model for democratic transition hanging in the balance. (3)
  • Indonesia's post-Suharto democratic model, often touted as Asean's best hope for a populous Muslim democracy, is under threat of collapse, with its legitimacy undermined by the police force's unaccountability and corruption. (4)
  • Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, three Asean members, have looked to Indonesia as proof that a large, diverse society can be run by civilians, not generals. However, if Indonesia's model fails, these countries may lose faith in the idea that democracy can succeed in Southeast Asia. (5)
  • Malaysia stands out as a functional democracy, where neither the military nor the police have interfered directly in politics since independence in 1957, highlighting the importance of institutionalizing civilian supremacy over security forces. (6)
  • Asean's community-building desires are contradicted by its lived reality, with members such as Myanmar being ruled by generals, Thailand by constitutions written under army tutelage, Cambodia by a party-military nexus, and Indonesia by a police-state apparatus under siege. (7)

Statistics:

  • The Indonesian National Police has a budget of $8.8 billion. (1)
  • Indonesia's population accounts for over 40% of Asean's total population. (8)
  • Malaysia has a police force of 170,000 members, while the Malaysian Armed Forces numbers approximately 115,000. (9)

Sources:

  • Phar Kim Beng, PhD, Professor of Asean Studies at International Islamic University of Malaysia and Director of Institute of Internationalisation and Asean Studies (IINTAS) (Source 1)
  • Malay Mail, article published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Malay Mail (Source 2)