Violence And Criminality Of TNI Personnel Must Be Resolved In General Courts
JAKARTA - Director of Imparsial, Ardi Manto Adiputra urged cases of alleged violence and crime involving members of the TNI to be handled through the general justice system, not military courts.
This pressure was conveyed following two recent events involving TNI soldiers in Jakarta and Pontianak.
On September 20, 2025, an online motorcycle taxi driver in Pontianak was suspected of being the victim of a beating by members of the TNI and suffered physical injuries.
Meanwhile, on September 16, 2025, the Jayakarta Military Police revealed the involvement of two TNI members in the kidnapping and murder case of the Head of Bank BRI Cempaka Putih Branch.
"Instead of protecting citizens, TNI personnel actually commit acts of violence that threaten the safety of citizens, even criminal acts of murder. Every crime involving members of the TNI must be completed completely without institutional protection," said Ardi in a written statement, Sunday, September 28, 2025.
According to him, cases that have recently occurred show a recurring pattern that shows the weakness of the monitoring mechanism and accountability in the TNI's body. Therefore, this is a serious alarm for the incomplete agenda of TNI reform.
He revealed that one of the crucial points in the spotlight was the enactment of Law no. 31 of 1997 concerning Military Courts, which still gives the authority for military courts to try TNI soldiers in general criminal cases. The regulation has the potential to perpetuate impunity because the military justice process tends to be closed and not accountable.
No citizens should be above the law. TNI members who commit general crimes, such as persecution or murder, should be tried in the general court as other civilians," continued Ardi.
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Dia mendesak agar pemerintah dan DPR segera merevisi UU No. 31 Tahun 1997 tentang Peradilan Militer, yang sudah mandek lebih dari 20 tahun seperti amanat reformasi peradilan militer yang telah ditegaskan melalui TAP MPR No. VII Tahun 2000 dan UU No. 34 Tahun 2004 tentang TNI.
“Ini pentingnya merevisi regulasi yang ada agar oknum anggota TNI yang terlibat tindak pidana diproses melalui peradilan umum untuk menjamin keterbukaan, akuntabilitas, dan penghormatan terhadap hak-hak korban,” tutup Ardi.
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He urged the government and the DPR to immediately revise Law no. 31 of 1997 concerning Military Courts, which have stalled for more than 20 years, as mandated by military judicial reforms which have been confirmed through TAP MPR No. VII 2000 and Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI.
"This is the importance of revising existing regulations so that unscrupulous members of the TNI involved in criminal acts are processed through the general court to ensure openness, accountability, and respect for the rights of victims," concluded Ardi.