What are the Crucial Articles Changed in the Revised TNI Law and What are the Impacts?

How far has the discussion on the revision of the TNI Law progressed by the DPR and the government?

The government and the DPR remain unmoved, continuing discussions on the revision of Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI despite public rejection. The Working Committee (Panja) of the TNI Bill, Commission I of the DPR together with government representatives have held several meetings to discuss several crucial articles.

On March 14-15, 2025, the TNI Bill Working Committee held a consignment meeting at the Fairmount Hotel, Jakarta. This meeting was met with protests, not only because the revision of the TNI Law was the main topic of discussion but also because it was held in a luxury hotel when the government was actively implementing budget efficiency. The lawmakers were also considered to have discussed it secretly without involving meaningful participation from the public.

The TNI Bill Working Committee continued the discussion by holding a meeting at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Monday (3/17/2025). Civil society circles suspect that the lawmakers intend to discuss the TNI Bill quickly so as to ignore public protests. The DPR is suspected of pursuing the target of ratifying the TNI Bill at a plenary meeting before the recess period, March 21. However, the DPR firmly denied the accusation.

What are the crucial articles that were agreed to be changed in the revision of the TNI Law?

In a consignment meeting last weekend, the DPR Commission I TNI Bill Working Committee and government representatives have agreed on three crucial changes to the TNI Law. Not only is the TNI's involvement in operations other than war expanded, the number of ministries/institutions that can be filled by active soldiers has also been agreed to be increased.

Based on the problem inventory list (DIM) of the Draft Law on Amendments to the TNI Law (RUU TNI) received by Kompas, Monday (17/3/2025), there are three crucial points that have been agreed to be changed. The three crucial materials are stated in Article 3 which regulates the position of the TNI, Article 47 related to the placement of the TNI in ministries and institutions, and Article 53 concerning the retirement age limit.

Article 47, which in the previous TNI Law stipulated that there were 10 ministries and institutions that could be placed with active soldiers, has now been agreed to be changed to 16 ministries/institutions. Another agreed change is related to military operations other than war (OMSP). The Working Committee agreed to increase it from the original 14 affairs to 17 affairs.

What are the impacts of the crucial articles in the revised Election Law?

The proposed changes to the basic implementation of military operations other than war (OMSP) contained in the draft of the TNI Bill are considered to be able to erode the principle of civil supremacy. The implementation of OMSP cannot be completely handed over to the government or the president. There must be control from the DPR to prevent the implementation of OMSP from deviating far from the main tasks of the TNI.

The DPR and government Working Committee have agreed to expand the scope of OMSP, from the previous 14 affairs to 17 affairs. The three new affairs are to assist the government in efforts to overcome cyber threats; assist the government in protecting and saving Indonesian citizens and national interests abroad; and assist the government in overcoming the abuse of narcotics, precursors, and other addictive substances.

How did civil society respond to the TNI Bill Working Committee's agreement?

Civil society circles continue to call for rejection of the discussion of the revision of the TNI Law. On Monday (17/3/2025), rejection of the revision of the TNI Law came from a coalition of civil society and a number of community leaders. They even issued a petition calling for rejection of the discussion of the TNI Bill.

The civil society coalition believes that, instead of strengthening, the proposed changes to the articles in the TNI Bill will actually weaken the professionalism of the TNI. The revision is also considered to have no urgency for the transformation of the TNI.

They even stated that the TNI Bill was problematic because there were a number of proposed articles for amendment that had the potential to restore militarism or the dual function of the TNI.

Is it true that the government and the DPR will restore the dual function of the TNI?

Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi denied allegations that the revision of the TNI Law was an attempt to restore ABRI's dual function as in the New Order era. The controversial article containing the President's authority to place active TNI soldiers in civilian positions as needed is no longer there.

Prasetyo even asked all parties to more carefully understand the substance of the revised TNI Law. He also asked that no party make statements about the return of the TNI's dual function as in the New Order era. He ensured that the revision of the TNI Law was needed to strengthen the TNI institution.

How should the placement of TNI in civilian positions be regulated?

National Resilience Institute Governor Ace Hasan Syadzily emphasized that civil supremacy must be upheld in a democratic system. The placement of TNI in civilian positions must be in accordance with the country's defense function.

According to him, the TNI has occupied civilian positions according to its function. However, there are several positions that have been filled but have not been regulated so that a revision of the TNI Law is needed.