“The goal of these two forms of warfare is clear: to influence perceptions, create polarization, and achieve strategic objectives that harm national interests,” Deputy Minister Donny Ermawan said in a statement in Jakarta.
Speaking at a public dialogue on Wednesday titled Defence Intellectual Community: Strengthening National Narratives and Structures for Sovereignty and National Welfare, Donny said the plantation sector, regulated under Law No. 39 of 2014, has become a main target of foreign intervention.
He noted the sector’s importance as a key contributor to state revenue and a source of jobs for millions, producing commodities such as palm oil, rubber, cocoa, coffee, sugarcane and tobacco.
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Professor Satya Arinanto, a senior lecturer at the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Law, said many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been used as tools of foreign influence.
“I once viewed NGOs as pillars of democracy. But the kind of NGOs I support are independent ones,” Satya said, adding that many rely on foreign funding and agendas at odds with Indonesia’s national interests.
Another law professor at the university, Hikmahanto Juwana, warned that foreign proxies could infiltrate state institutions to pressure strategic industries.
He pointed to the weakening of Indonesia’s tobacco sector through global agreements and campaigns, including pressure on the Health Ministry to adopt the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Deputy chair of parliament’s Commission I, Dave Laksono, said narrative warfare often exploits global issues through modern communication platforms to weaken Indonesia’s stance.
“Negative narratives are often created to divide. Media power and these narratives are used to attack opponents, both domestically and globally,” said Dave, who also heads the Alumni Association of the Indonesian Defense University.
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Reporter: Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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