Synergy between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Community Protects Youth Pledge Celebrations from Provocative Threats
By: Aditya Hutomo
The 2025 Youth Pledge Day commemoration took place in a safe, orderly atmosphere, and filled with a spirit of togetherness. In various regions, collaboration between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the community was a crucial foundation for maintaining stability and preventing disturbances that could tarnish the national momentum. This conducive atmosphere is proof that the spirit of unity inherited from the youth of 1928 continues to thrive and thrive in line with the challenges of the times, including in the digital era, which is rife with the potential for provocation and disinformation.
The national theme “Youth on the Move, Indonesia Unites” reflects the renewed enthusiasm of the younger generation to strengthen national unity amidst increasingly complex differences. In an era where information spreads rapidly, the spirit of the Youth Pledge speaks not only of physical resistance or political struggle, but also of moral and intellectual resilience in the face of threats of provocation in the digital space.
The synergy between security forces and the community is a key pillar in ensuring the peaceful commemoration. The government believes that the success in maintaining national order is the result of the collective work of all elements of the nation. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, viewed the calmness of this year’s Youth Pledge commemoration as affirming the social strength of the Indonesian nation in facing global challenges. He believes that amid the threats of climate change, the food crisis, and technological disruption, only a united and highly competitive nation can survive. Therefore, he emphasized the vital role of youth, not only as the nation’s successors but also as the primary drivers of resilient and integrated development.
From a national security perspective, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) view the Youth Pledge commemoration as a crucial opportunity to strengthen public security and solidarity. National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo assessed that the stable conditions during the celebrations reflected the successful collaboration between the security forces and the public. He assessed that the creation of a conducive atmosphere in various regions was not solely the result of security operations, but a concrete manifestation of increasingly mature public participation. He also highlighted the importance of vigilance against potential digital provocations that often emerge in the lead-up to national commemorations. He stated that the spread of fake news or provocative narratives on social media could threaten unity if not addressed with literacy and collective awareness.
Similarly, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto assessed that cross-institutional cooperation between the TNI, Polri, and the community has become a tangible symbol of national cooperation in maintaining security. He viewed the 2025 Youth Pledge celebration as a reflection of the success of all parties in creating a peaceful atmosphere amidst diversity. According to him, national security is not only the responsibility of the authorities, but also the result of cooperation between the people and the state. He assessed that community involvement in maintaining security at the local level, from environmental security activities to participation in cyber patrols, is evidence of a growing sense of national consciousness.
From a socio-political perspective, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR RI) Lestari Moerdijat viewed the peaceful atmosphere during the commemoration as a sign of the nation’s success in upholding the noble values of the Youth Pledge. She assessed that love for the homeland, the spirit of mutual cooperation, and a commitment to unity are moral foundations that must continue to be passed down to the younger generation. She also highlighted data from the General Elections Commission (KPU), which noted that more than half of voters in the 2024 Election came from millennials and Generation Z. For her, this shows that the younger generation now plays a strategic role in determining the direction of Indonesian democracy, including in maintaining the stability and integrity of the nation from the threat of political provocation.
The 2025 Youth Pledge celebrations also demonstrated the collaborative efforts of the government, authorities, and the public in creating a healthy public space. In various regions, ceremonies, cultural parades, and national dialogues proceeded in an orderly and productive manner. The Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI), along with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora), actively campaigned for digital literacy and wise social media usage. These efforts were deemed effective in preventing the spread of hate speech and strengthening youth awareness to use social media as a space for collaboration, not conflict.
From an academic perspective, the Head of the Master of Political Science Study Program at Wijaya Kusuma University Surabaya, Dr. H. Darsono, M.Si., believes that the spirit of the Youth Pledge in the digital era must be translated into a national literacy movement. He believes that the digital space has now become a new arena for the moral struggle of the younger generation. For him, young people must be able to be guardians of truth amidst the flood of information. He calls the emergence of “critical nationalism” among young people a positive thing, namely a form of love for the homeland that is not dogmatic, but rational and based on knowledge.
The synergy between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the community during the 2025 Youth Pledge celebrations emphasized that security and unity are not born from instructions, but from the nation’s collective consciousness. When the authorities and the people unite, the threat of provocation and disinformation can be elegantly mitigated—through dialogue, literacy, and collaboration.
This year’s Youth Pledge celebration is proof that the spirit of 1928 remains alive in a new form: a collaborative spirit combined with digital vigilance. The Youth Pledge is now not only stated in historical texts, but is realized in real actions to maintain social harmony and strengthen national resilience from all forms of provocation. With this spirit, Indonesia asserts itself as a nation that is mature, has character, and is able to maintain its unity amidst the current of global change. (*)
Public Security Analyst
