TNI Bill Passed, Yogyakarta Students Call for Cancellation

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS – Students who are part of the Jogja Memanggil Alliance held a demonstration at the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Province, in Yogyakarta City, Thursday (20/3/2025). They demanded the cancellation of the revision of the Military Law that had been approved for ratification by the DPR.

Hundreds of students from various campuses and organizations visited the DIY Regional House of Representatives building on Malioboro Street at 11:30 AM WIB. They carried several banners and posters voicing their rejection of the revision of the TNI Law.

Students also lowered the Red and White flag to half-mast in the courtyard of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) as a symbol of mourning over the ratification of the TNI Bill. Alternately, several student representatives delivered speeches in the courtyard of the building amidst police security.

The spokesperson for the Jogja Memanggil Alliance, who refers to himself as Bung Koes, stated that the ratification of the Draft Law (RUU) on the Armed Forces (TNI) by the House of Representatives (DPR) constitutes a procedural defect. This is because the RUU TNI was not included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) of the DPR for 2025 and the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for 2025-2029.

"This bill also does not involve meaningful public participation. This was evident when the civil society coalition went to Jakarta; they were not allowed to enter by the DPR to discuss the TNI bill," he stated.

The TNI Law is procedurally flawed, premature, and full of conflicts of interest that we must thwart together.

Marsinah, another spokesperson, stated that the ratification of the TNI Bill into law is steering the current situation toward the New Order era, which implemented the dual function of ABRI. "The TNI Law is procedurally flawed, premature, and rife with conflicts of interest that we must collectively reject," she said.

In the protest, students demanded members of the DIY Regional House of Representatives to meet them and sign a statement rejecting the ratification of the TNI Bill. A member of the DIY Regional House of Representatives from the PDI Perjuangan faction, Eko Suwanto, then met with the students.

In front of the students, Eko stated that he supported the action. He also signed the student statement that was presented to him.

In addition, Eko invited the masses to fight together to prevent the dual function of ABRI like before. "This aspiration will be forwarded to the DPR and the government to cancel the TNI Bill that has been (approved to be) passed this morning," he said.

In the action, students carried out graffiti on the walls of the DIY DPRD building. They also filled the building's terrace with trash as a form of protest. Students also burned tree branches as a bonfire in the DPRD yard.

Until 16:30 WIB, students were still in the building. The demonstration was also filled with theatrical actions and musical performances.

Previously, the rejection of the DPR and government's plan to revise the TNI Law has also been voiced by various elements in Yogyakarta. The rejection is based on concerns about the return of the military's dual function in Indonesia.

On Tuesday (18/3/2025), around 100 lecturers and students of Universitas Gadjah Mada called for the rejection. The following day, it was the turn of the academic community of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogyakarta to do the same. All actions were orderly and peaceful.

UGM Law Faculty lecturer Herlambang P Wiratraman, during his speech on Tuesday, said that this action was carried out because the people's representatives did not want to hear the public's aspirations regarding the TNI Bill. "We know that the spirit of this revision is to erode civilian supremacy," he said.

He also stated that there is no urgency for the TNI Law to be revised. Moreover, there is an impression that the revision process is being carried out in a "rushed" manner. "There are many other laws that are important and need to be revised, improved, or established," he said.