Indonesia Deploys 20,000 Troops to Jakarta Following Wiretapping Investigation

Indonesian authorities deployed more than 20,000 troops and military personnel to the capital city of Jakarta amid an investigation into an alleged illegal wiretapping operation targeting President Prabowo Subianto.

The presidential palace stated that the alleged wiretapping could be regarded as conduct leading towards treason. Three senior police generals have been detained in connection with the probe, including Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who served as national police chief before being appointed as the president's chief of staff last month. President Subianto dismissed him on Wednesday.

Authorities have not officially confirmed that the troop deployment is connected to the wiretapping scandal. Navy operations assistant Vice Admiral Yayan Sofiyan stated that the troop movement began with 2,100 personnel stationed in Jakarta on Monday and reached 20,980 personnel with arrivals from outside the capital on Wednesday, while an additional 13,140 personnel remain on standby.

Indonesian armed forces spokesperson Major General Muhammad Nas described the troop movement as standard procedure for maintaining national security and territorial integrity. The government has not yet determined a motive for the surveillance.