Indonesia's president fires chief of staff detained over alleged wiretapping
Three senior police generals are detained as suspects, and the military is deploying more than 20,000 troops to Jakarta, with no link to the case confirmed.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto dismissed his chief of staff, Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, on Wednesday. Police said in a televised briefing late Tuesday that three senior police generals are suspects in an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting the president. The other two named are Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Eko Hadi Santoso, and police said all three were detained Sunday.
Police allege the wiretaps ran between 2025 and 2026, when Listyo was national police chief, and were ordered without proper procedure. They also allege the suspects ordered files of intercepted communications deleted in late October. The presidential palace said the alleged wiretapping could be regarded as conduct "leading toward treason."
Allegations say the surveillance also reached Cabinet officials, journalists and business executives, among others. The suspects have not responded publicly and could face charges carrying up to 10 years in prison. Also, Indonesia's armed forces are sending more than 20,000 soldiers and other personnel into Jakarta.
Navy official Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan put the total at 20,980. Authorities have not confirmed a link to the probe. Armed forces spokesperson Maj. Gen. Muhammad Nas called the movement standard procedure.
Legal affairs minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the motive is not yet determined.
- 20,980 total personnel in the Jakarta deployment, per navy operations assistant Vice Adm. Yayan Sofiyan — ABC News
- 13,140 additional personnel on standby, per Sofiyan — ABC News
- 2,100 personnel in the first phase, which began Monday — ABC News
- up to 10 years prison term the suspects could face over unlawful interception-related charges — ABC News
Three sides of the story
Liberal3 outlets
a chief of staff fired amid alleged treason
Al Jazeera English leads with the firing: the president's chief of staff "has been fired" for what the government says could be "treason." It quotes presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi blaming "certain rogue individuals" and cites the top National Police detective, Asep Safrudin, saying the operation had no legal basis. It adds that the military did not say whether its deployment of more than 20,000 soldiers was linked to the arrests.
ABC News carries the Associated Press report under a headline about troops boosting Jakarta's security after the generals' arrest. It opens with the deployment, then sets out the palace's treason language, the allegations that Cabinet officials, journalists and business executives were also watched, and armed forces spokesperson Muhammad Nas's view that "Troop deployments are a normal occurrence." It closes with two analysts.
Bambang Rukminto asks what the motive would be if the president was the target. Adrianus Meliala suspects the taps served "other parties" and, if the allegations are proven, may reflect political maneuvering.
Center3 outlets
troop deployment alongside a probe into wiretapping
Courthouse News runs the Associated Press report, which opens with more than 20,000 troops going to Jakarta while authorities investigate the alleged wiretapping. It quotes Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra saying "there are signs and indications pointing toward an act of treason," and notes he stressed that his assessment is not final. He said later findings suggested the operation may have aimed at "paralyzing the government so that it could not function."
In its own narration, the report adds that investigators are weighing further charges under Article 191, a provision whose penalties reach as far as death. Deutsche Welle also leads with the deployment. It says the palace "claims" the spying could be regarded as tending toward treason and that armed forces spokesperson Muhammad Nas "claimed" the troop movement was standard procedure.
Under the subhead "Motive yet to be established," it reports the government has not determined why the taps were made. Both close on criminologist Adrianus Meliala, who says that if the allegations are proven, anyone who engages in politics must be ready for the political consequences.
Conservative1 outlet
Troops sent to Jakarta after generals' arrests
The Washington Times reports that officials said Wednesday more than 20,000 troops and personnel are heading to Jakarta while authorities look into an alleged illegal wiretap operation aimed at the president. It also reports that three senior police generals are detained.
Which side made the stronger case?
All sources: 7 articles from 7 outlets
Liberal (3)
- ABC News: Indonesia deploys troops to boost Jakarta's security after generals' arrest
- Al Jazeera English: Indonesian president’s chief of staff dismissed over alleged wiretapping
- The Boston Globe: Indonesia’s military deploys thousands of troops to boost Jakarta’s security after generals’ arrest
Center (3)
- Courthouse News: Indonesia deploys thousands of troops after generals arrested over wiretapping allegations
- Deutsche Welle: Indonesia deploys troops to Jakarta after wiretapping allegations
- The Seattle Times: Indonesia deploys thousands of troops after generals arrested over wiretapping allegations
Conservative (1)
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