Police Forcibly Disperse Student Demonstration Rejecting TNI Bill

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Police forcibly dispersed a student demonstration opposing the ratification of the revision of the TNI Law in front of the main gate of the DPR/MPR/DPD Building, Jakarta, Thursday night (20/3/2025). The crowd, under pressure, briefly threw firecrackers and stones at officers before eventually disbanding.

The situation in front of the parliament building at 7:40 PM Western Indonesia Time (WIB) became heated. Demonstrators threw firecrackers and other objects such as stones and bottles into the parliament complex. Police inside the parliament complex responded by firing water cannons. The police urged the students to cease actions that could potentially lead to unrest.

"The demonstration time is over. Please come back to demonstrate tomorrow," said one of the police from inside the parliament complex.

The demonstrators also managed to break through the fences on both the left and right sides of the main gate of the DPR/MPR/DPD building. The fence was successfully breached after being pulled using ropes tied to the bars of the fence. The crowd even managed to enter the parliamentary complex.

Seeing the crowd continuing to push forward, the police stationed at the location requested the protest participants to stop the demonstration. Furthermore, the police repeatedly sprayed water cannons at the crowd to drive them back.

By 8:00 PM, the students gradually began leaving the streets in front of the parliamentary complex. The police continued to urge the crowd to disperse by deploying tear gas. The students also slowly retreated toward Jalan Gerbang Pemuda.

The DPR was too hasty in ratifying the revision of the TNI Law. The revision of the TNI Law should have been discussed more deeply and transparently.

The Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, who was present at the student protest, stated that the House of Representatives was too hasty in passing the revision of the Military Law. The revision of the Military Law should have been discussed more thoroughly and transparently.

Usman also highlighted the limited access to the draft revision of the TNI Law. According to him, up to now, many parties have not yet obtained a complete copy of the latest draft of the TNI Bill that has been agreed upon to be enacted as law.

The TNI Bill was approved to be enacted into law during the plenary session of the House of Representatives at the Nusantara II Building, Jakarta, Thursday morning. The Speaker of the House, Puan Maharani, emphasized that the discussion of the TNI Bill had fulfilled all principles of legality and had been presented in the plenary session of the House. Furthermore, the Chairperson of the Central Executive Board of PDI-P claimed that the revision of the TNI Law was discussed openly and had involved public participation.

"We, the DPR and the government, emphasize that (the TNI Law) still prioritizes civil supremacy, democracy, human rights, and is in accordance with Indonesian and international laws and regulations," he said.

Puan did not deny that the revision of the TNI Law had drawn public rejection, leading to demonstrations by many people. Therefore, the DPR is also willing to provide an explanation to address public concerns, especially concerns about the emergence of the TNI's dual function due to the expansion of civilian positions that can be filled by soldiers.

"So please don't have any suspicions. Don't make the wrong assumptions, let's all read this law carefully. What is suspected is not appropriate," said Puan.

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoedin also denied that the TNI's dual function was back with the revision of the law. He stated that public interpretation is sometimes disproportionate and needs to be corrected.

However, Sjafrie still appreciates those who reject the TNI Bill. He hopes that this dynamic does not forget unity in facing various threats.