Indonesia deploys troops as president sacks aide accused of wiretapping

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, following his arrest in a wiretapping scandal that the government claims points to treason. The illegal wiretaps allegedly involved tapping the phones of President Widodo, unnamed journalists, politicians, government officials and businesspeople since early 2025. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday and are currently being investigated for unauthorized wiretaps.

President Widodo's spokesman, Prasetyo Hadi, stated that the wiretapping actions were deemed treasonous and a threat to state interests and the safety of the nation's leadership, including the president himself. The scandal has come at a time when the president faces multiple challenges, including public discontent over his spending policies and a decline in investor confidence in the US$1.5 trillion economy.

The military has mobilized thousands of troops in Jakarta to bolster security and protect the stability of Indonesia. This deployment is not uncommon in the country, where the military has been regularly deployed ahead of anti-government protests. Listyo, a former national police chief and loyalist of Widodo's predecessor, Joko Widodo, was known for his loyalty to the former president.

The wiretapping scandal has raised concerns about potential motives and the involvement of other political figures. Former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for Prabowo to restore civility to Indonesian politics. Amnesty International urged authorities to disclose the targets of the wiretaps, warning that if the scandal is allowed to continue, it could lead to the establishment of a secret police apparatus to suppress opposition.

State-building researcher Sana Jaffrey noted that the troop deployment in Jakarta might indicate growing concerns about tension between the military and police loyal to Listyo, potentially strengthening the argument for increased reliance on military security.