JAKARTA (Reuters) -Indonesia’s military has begun producing multivitamins to be distributed to children through its free meals programme, an official said on Wednesday, the latest expansion of the military into civilian life under President Prabowo Subianto.

Since taking office last year, Prabowo, a former special forces commander, has expanded military roles including in manufacturing medicines, delivering a free school meals project, and handling food security initiatives.

The expansion has sparked fears among students and activists that the world’s third-largest democracy could return to the military-dominated New Order era under authoritarian leader Suharto.

The government says it is part of its “national defence” of the pharmaceutical sector and that it is able to provide cheaper m

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