Call The TNI Entering Campus A Forms Of Academic Freedom Intervention, Commission X DPR: Efforts By The Minister Of Education

Illustration. Soldier infantry battalion buffers Papuan-prone areas at the Monas Cross Field, Jakarta, Wednesday, October 2, 2024. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Member of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, totaling Triyana, highlighted the actions of Indonesian National Army (TNI) personnel who have recently appeared on campus. According to him, the presence of military soldiers who enter university areas has the potential to injure academic freedom.

"The incident of the arrival of the army to campus can be interpreted as an effort to dictate, even being a form of intervention in academic freedom which absolutely requires a conducive atmosphere for intellectual freedom of thought and expression," said total Triyana, Tuesday, April 22.

The incident of the entry of TNI officers to campus repeatedly occurred after the ratification of the TNI Law Revision in March. BBC Indonesia noted that the traces of the TNI in universities had even been recorded intensely in three regions for three consecutive days.

First, the meeting between BEM and Kodim 0701 Banyumas, Central Java, took place on March 24, which was motivated by the protests by the TNI Bill on March 21. Four days later, Papuan students felt threatened by the circulation of a letter from the 1707/Merauke Military District Command which was sent to the Merauke Regional Secretariat to request student data.

At the beginning of the letter, the Kodim explained the two basic data requests, namely the work program in the field of intelligence/security and consideration of the command and staff of the Kodim 1707/Merauke.

Third, the announcement of cooperation between the TNI and Udayana University. Although the agreement was signed by the Chancellor of Udayana University, I Ketut Sudarsana, and the Commander of Kodam IX/Udayana, Muhammad Zamroni, on behalf of the Army Chief of Staff on March 5 in Denpasar, the information was in the spotlight on March 26.

Meanwhile, most recently, the arrival of TNI members in a discussion themed Fascism Threatens Campus: Military screening for Academic Freedom at the Walisongo State Islamic University, Semarang, on April 14, 2025.

In addition, there was also the arrival of the Military District Commander (Kodim) of Depok 0508 Colonel Iman Widhiarto to the University of Indonesia (UI) campus on April 16 when students were holding the National Student Consolidation. Although the TNI stated that it was present because it received an invitation, the campus denied inviting the military to the student consolidation event.

menegaskan, keampus adalah area yang bebas dari intervensi pihak pun yang tidak berpentingan. Ia juga menekankan, bahwa setiap lembaga pendidikan tinggi memiliki hak otonomi yang dilindungi undang-undang, termasuk dalam hal menjaga suasana academia yang bebas dari tekanan maupun pertimbangan dari pihak luar.

"The campus is an academic arena that must be sterile from any intervention that is irrelevant to academic interests itself," said the legislator from the Banten I electoral district.

tip pun menilai fenomena tentara masuk keampus ini sebagai remundur demokrasi yang mengingat pada masa Orde Baru (Orba). Pada saat itu, militer memiliki peran dominan dalam kehidupan sipil, termasuk institusi pendidikan.

The phenomenon of the entry of members of the military to campus without an invitation, said MAY, is feared to affect academic freedom and to increase the critical power of the academic community.

"Never go back to the past for things that are not good for the quality of academic freedom in our democracy,"ORD.

As a member of the House of Representatives Commission in charge of education affairs,men asked all parties, especially the apparatus, to provide space for students and academics to develop science and be free from fear from other parties.

"Let academic people develop their knowledge and intellectual traditions without feelings of fear and restraint," he appealed.

Furthermore,mendorong Kemendiktisaintek serta pimpinan perguruan tinggi untuk memberikan klarifikasi secara terbuka kepada publik mengenai protokol keamanan kampus. Termasuk mekanisme dan prosedur dalam menerima kehadiran tamu dari institusi negara, terutama yang datang dengan attributem militer atau bersamaan dinas.

"Transparency in the management of the campus environment is very important to maintain public trust and ensure that there is no abuse of authority," said haphazard.

"In the future, there needs to be a clear standard operating procedure (SOP), which is a guide for all parties in maintaining campus independence as well as the security of the academic community," he continued.

Goodminton reminded that the principles of campus academic and autonomy freedom are an important foundation in the implementation of higher education in Indonesia.

He also ensured that Commission X of the DPR will continue to supervise and ensure that every education policy remains in favor of democratic values, freedom of thought, and the integrity of educational institutions as space for the growth of critical reasoning and active participation of the younger generation.

"The government, especially the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, must ensure that this principle is enforced and protected", saidTEN.