TNI Bill Passed, Hundreds of Students Again Storm DPR

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Hundreds of students once again staged a protest in front of the DPR/MPR/DPD building after the DPR approved the ratification of the Draft Law amending Law Number 34 of 2024 concerning the TNI into law, Thursday (20/3/2025). They expressed their disappointment with the government and the DPR for passing a law that is considered to restore the dual function of the TNI, reminiscent of the New Order era.

Since 1:00 PM WIB, waves of student masses have continued to arrive in front of the Pancasila Gate, at the DPR/MPR/DPD Building, Senayan, Jakarta. The students came from, among others, Universitas Nasional, Universitas Trisakti, and Institut Pertanian Bogor. They unfurled protest banners reading "Reject the TNI Bill, Uphold Civil Supremacy," "Trisakti Rejects the New Order Again," and placed them right at the Pancasila Gate.

The protest briefly escalated after the crowd managed to break through the glass barrier of the security post. The crowd then threw stones and wood at the glass.

Not only that, the crowd opposing the ratification of the TNI Bill also attempted to dismantle other protective glass barriers using ropes. Furthermore, the inscription "House of Representatives" on the side wall of the entrance gate was vandalized by the crowd. The crowd continued to try to topple and open the gate of the Pancasila Entrance using makeshift tools.

The President of Trisakti University Student Body, Faiz Nabawi Mulya, revealed that more than 300 Trisakti students participated in the demonstration. They expressed disappointment as the DPR and the Government proceeded to ratify the TNI Law.

This protest is also a continuation of the demonstration held since Wednesday (19/3/2025). On the first day, they intercepted Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas as he was about to enter the Parliamentary Complex. Supratman was forced to step out of his vehicle to meet with the students.

Faiz expressed disappointment because his meeting with the Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas, did not yield any results. In the end, the House of Representatives instead passed the TNI Bill.

"Maybe yesterday there was a Minister who came and maybe said that he would accommodate and so on. But the reality and fact is that today the law was still passed," said Faiz.

The students continued to give speeches and convey their concerns about several articles in the revised TNI Law that were considered controversial. One of the articles that was highlighted was Article 47 which regulates the placement of active TNI soldiers in civilian positions. They considered that this article could restore the dual function of the TNI as it was during the New Order.

According to Faiz, the article actually opens up the widest possible placement of soldiers in the civilian realm, thus threatening civilian supremacy. The DPR should support civilian supremacy that has been running for approximately 25 years.

Faiz is worried that if more armed officers fill civilian positions, the militaristic approach will be used more. "Trisakti students reject the rebirth of the dual function," he said.

The students asked President Prabowo Subianto to issue a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law after the DPR passed the TNI Bill into law. They hope that the Perppu can be a solution to cancel the revised TNI law.

Previously, a group of people began camping at the DPR Pancasila Gate, the entrance to the DPR complex from Jalan Gelora, Jakarta, since early Thursday (3/20/2025). They urged that the draft regulation be canceled. They arrived at around 00.00 WIB.

Dozens of people, mostly young people, were still holding out until 10:00 WIB, right at the moment when the DPR Plenary Meeting began with the agenda of approving the ratification of the TNI Bill into law. Three tents that had been set up since the night before were also still standing upright.

Despite the rejection of the revision of the TNI Law voiced by many groups, the DPR and the government remain unmoved. The lawmakers do not want to listen to the public and still agree to the ratification of the TNI Bill into law.

The DPR Plenary Meeting with the agenda of approving the ratification of the revision of the TNI Law was led by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani. The meeting was also attended by a number of ministers of the Red and White Cabinet as representatives of the government, namely Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo, and also attended by TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto.

There was no rejection or interruption from members of the DPR who attended the DPR Plenary Meeting when Puan asked for approval to pass the TNI Bill into law.

"We emphasize that the changes to the TNI Law are still based on the values and principles of democracy, civil supremacy, human rights, and comply with national and international laws that have been ratified," said Puan Maharani before asking for approval for the ratification of the TNI Bill.

Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, after the DPR approved the ratification of the TNI Bill, said that the revision of the TNI Law was aimed at strengthening the policy of modernizing domestic defense industry defense equipment to support the strength and capabilities of the TNI as the guardian of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia.

In addition, revisions to clarify the limitations and mechanisms of TNI involvement in non-military duties by first having to retire; improve soldier welfare and social security for soldier families; and adjust provisions related to career levels and retirement age.