JAKARTA The working committee meeting (panja) to discuss the revision of Law Number 34/2004 concerning the TNI which was held last weekend has drawn controversy. The public is worried that the TNI Bill can minimize public supervision of government actions.
Since last weekend, netizens have been busy voicing their concerns regarding the TNI Bill. The hashtag #TolakRuuTNI has also gone viral on social media.
This stems from the working committee meeting (panja) of Commission I of the DPR RI to speed up the discussion of the TNI Bill for two days last weekend, namely Friday (14/3/2025) and Saturday (15/3) at five-star hotels, Fairmont, Senayan, Jakarta.
However, the closed meeting drew controversy. First, because the government held a meeting at a luxury hotel even though it was making efficiency. Not to mention the impression of being in a hurry and not being transparent in the discussion of the bill.
Especially when the DPR Working Committee meeting was held, it was seen that from outside the hotel a number of tactical vehicles (rantis) belonging to the TNI were parked.
"In the midst of the public spotlight on the revision of the TNI Law, the Government and the DPR have instead chosen to discuss this bill behind closed doors at luxury hotels on weekends," the civilian coalition said in a statement.
The TNI Law, which is currently being revised, is almost 21 years old, after President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed it on October 16, 2004. The revision of the TNI Law was carried out following a letter from the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number R12/Pres/02/2025 dated February 13, 2025 regarding the appointment of a deputy government to discuss the Draft Law on Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army.
Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Utut Adianto, said President Prabowo Subianto appointed four ministers, namely the Minister of Law, Minister of Finance, Minister of Defense, and Minister of State Secretary to represent the government in the discussion of the bill.
The revisions include regulating the addition of the age of the army service and expanding active military involvement in civilian positions. This reason makes the community compact against the TNI Bill.
Member of Commission I DPR RI TB Hasanuddin explained, initially there were 10 ministries/agencies that could be occupied by the active TNI, as stated in Article 47 of the TNI Law.
The agencies in question are the offices in charge of the coordinator of Politics and National Security, State Defense, Presidential Military Secretary, State Intelligence, State Crypto, National Defense Institute, National Defense Council, National Search and Rescue (SAR), National Narcotics, and Supreme Court.
However, in the TNI Bill, the number of agencies that can be added by the TNI has increased by five, to 15 ministries/agencies, namely Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT, Maritime Security, and the Attorney General's Office.
Then in the discussion of the Committee for the TNI Bill, there is an addition of one agency that can later be occupied by active TNI soldiers, namely the National Border Management Agency (BNPP). Thus, a total of 16 ministries/agencies can be occupied by active TNI soldiers.
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This means that if an active TNI soldier occupies a position outside the ministry/institution, then the TNI soldier must resign from his service.
Currently, more than 2,500 TNI members occupy civilian positions in Indonesia. If the TNI Law is revised, this number will increase and the public is worried that this has the potential to restore the Dwifunction of ABRI in the New Order era.
In its official statement, the Civil Society Coalition assessed that the TNI Bill was problematic, because there were articles that would restore the military or Dwifunction of the TNI in Indonesia, namely the military actively occupying civilian positions.
"The expansion of the placement of the active TNI is not in accordance with the principles of TNI professionalism and risks creating problems, such as the exclusion of civilians from civilian positions, strengthening military domination in the civilian realm and triggering policies and multiple loyalty. In addition, seizing civil office and destabilizing civil servants and women in access to strategic positions," the Civil Society Coalition said in a statement.
Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) Dedi Kurnia Syah also highlighted the TNI Bill which was being discussed by the public. He also compared President Prabowo Subianto's leadership with Sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), who are both military.
Although both of them are 4-star Generals, Dedi assesses that SBY is wiser in making decisions regarding the TNI institution.
According to Dedi, Prabowo's efforts to place members of the TNI to occupy civilian positions in more ministries/agencies through this bill are tantamount to not respecting the reform mandate that has been fought for previously.
"The nuances of TNI functionality such as the ABRI era are indeed visible, and this is quite worrying, SBY is also an elite military, but SBY is mature enough and obedient to the mandate of reform, and the result is that Indonesia is led by minimal noise," said Dedi when contacted by VOI.
Furthermore, Dedi assessed that the revision of the TNI Law was the latest evidence that Prabowo tended to follow Suharto's leadership style, the second president of Indonesia.
Regarding public concerns about the return of the TNI's Dwifunction, Dedi considered it to be a natural thing. Because in this way, it can minimize public supervision of government actions.
"The public certainly deserves to worry, with military dominance in the elite position, this can dwarf opportunities for public supervision," he added.
In addition, said Dedi, no one can confirm whether the TNI is anti-critic or not. However, the many criminalizations against government critics are evidence of anti-criticism.
So, the involvement of active TNI members in civil office makes it increasingly difficult for the community to control. As a result, Indonesia returned to the New Order (Orba) era like the Suharto era with Prabowo's face.
"It is proven that the anti-critic military, even now it has been seen where public criticism is directly fought and considered an enemy," Dedi concluded.
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