Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Downey (second from left in the front row) handed over the military produced multivitamins to the kitchens providing free meals for distribution to students during the free nutrition meal program in Jakarta. (Reuters)
Berita Indonesia -- The Indonesian military has started producing vitamins and distributing them to students through free nutrition meals. This is President Prabowo's latest move to expand the military's role in civil affairs.
On Wednesday (October 1st), Indonesian Deputy Minister of Defense and retired Air Force member Donnie handed over 4.8 million pills of multivitamins produced by the military laboratory to 100 kitchens in Jakarta that provide food for the government's free meal program at an event.
He said that the military will distribute vitamins to relevant kitchens outside Jakarta. These vitamins are designed to support the government's free meal program, with a production capacity of millions of pills
The free nutritious meal program has been criticized for repeated incidents of collective food poisoning, and some public opinion has called for the program to be stopped. However, the government reiterates that only a very small number of people have been poisoned.
The Indonesian military also delivered 17.4 million pills of painkillers and antibiotics to national cooperatives across the country at Wednesday's event. Before producing vitamins, the military had already produced other drugs and sold them to the public through 80000 national cooperative channels.
As military laboratories increase production capacity, we can reduce production costs and provide drugs to the public at more affordable prices, "said Downey
He added that the military also planned to produce drugs to treat diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and other diseases.
The Indonesian government announced on July 22 that the military will begin producing drugs to supply to the public. Defense Minister Shaferi said at the time that the military had reached a consensus with the National Food and Drug Administration that the pharmaceutical laboratories originally dedicated to military use by the army, navy, and air force would be transformed into civilian drug production. Large scale production is expected to start in October, and the drugs will be distributed through channels covering rural areas across the country, with prices only half of the market price.
The Indonesian military's involvement in drug production is expected to help combat the problem of illegal drug circulation and the medical "black market". However, human rights organizations believe that this move violates military law, as active duty military personnel are not allowed to engage in commercial activities, and that it reflects the government's inclination towards authoritarianism.
After coming to power, Prabowo, who comes from a military background, empowered the military. In addition to allowing the military to participate in food security projects, he also pushed for amendments to allow more soldiers to serve in civilian positions. When the Indonesian parliament passed the relevant bill in March this year, it sparked widespread protests from students and civic groups.
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