Mohammad Hasan, Faisal Faisal, Mahdi Syahbandir, M. Gaussyah, Andini Fikarda
This study examined the legal and political dimensions of the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ (TNI) assistance to the National Police (Polri) in maintaining internal security, with a focus on Aceh. Despite existing legal mandates under Law No. 34/2004, the absence of a specific Assistance Law has created regulatory ambiguity, operational inefficiencies, and overlapping authority between the TNI and Polri. Using a normative juridical approach supported by qualitative analysis and elite interviews, this research revealed that informal coordination, discretionary deployments, and financial uncertainty continue to undermine institutional accountability and civilian control. The Aceh case, shaped by post-conflict dynamics and special autonomy, illustrated how legal indeterminacy amplifies institutional tension and public distrust. The findings highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive legal framework that defines the scope, procedures, and oversight of military assistance in internal security. This study contributes to civil– military relations scholarship by integrating responsive law theory and political legal analysis, while offering practical recommendations for democratic security sector reform. The Indonesian experience provides relevant insights for other transitional democracies seeking to balance national security with democratic accountability. © 2025, is licensed under a CC-BY-SA.
Faculty of Law, University of Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia; Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry, Banda Aceh, Indonesia; SCAD Independent Research Institute, Indonesia
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