TNI Bill Approved, DPR Claims Changes Based on Civil Supremacy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Despite facing opposition from various groups, the House of Representatives (DPR) still approved the ratification of the revision of the TNI Law into law during the DPR Plenary Session at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (20/3/2025).

The House of Representatives claims that the amendment to the Military Law remains based on the values and principles of democracy, civilian supremacy, human rights, and complies with national and international laws that have been ratified.

The Plenary Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) with the agenda of approving the amendment to the TNI Law was chaired by the Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani. The session was also attended by several ministers from the Red and White Cabinet, namely Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo, as well as the Commander of the TNI, General Agus Subiyanto.

There was no objection or interruption from members of the House of Representatives (DPR) attending the DPR Plenary Meeting when the Military Bill (RUU TNI) was proposed for approval to become law by Puan. Unusually, Puan asked for approval from all DPR members three times, and on all three occasions, there was no objection or interruption from DPR members. After being approved to become law by the DPR, the next step in the ratification process of the Military Bill into the Military Law (UU TNI) falls under the authority of President Prabowo Subianto.

"We affirm that the amendment to the TNI Law remains grounded in the values and principles of democracy, civilian supremacy, human rights, and complies with both national and international laws that have been ratified," stated Puan Maharani before requesting approval for the enactment of the TNI Bill.

The Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Utut Adianto, while presenting the report on the discussion of the TNI Bill, explained the process of deliberating the TNI Bill, which began after the Plenary Session of the House of Representatives on February 18, 2025, when the House received a letter from President Prabowo Subianto regarding the appointment of government representatives to discuss the TNI Bill. Subsequently, Commission I of the House of Representatives was assigned to deliberate on it together with the government.

During the discussion process, Commission I of the DPR also claimed to have absorbed input from stakeholders and involved the active participation of the community as part of fulfilling the principle of meaningful participation in the formation of laws as mandated by the Constitutional Court's ruling.

The implementation of fulfilling meaningful participation includes holding a public hearing inviting experts, academics, non-governmental organizations, and the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform. In addition, Commission I of the DPR also held a meeting with related ministers, as well as with the TNI Commander and chiefs of staff. The last meeting was held on March 18 when a level I decision was taken to approve the ratification of the TNI Bill.

Furthermore, Utut explained the important points in the TNI Bill. He said the TNI Bill focuses on three main substances, namely the affirmation of the TNI's position under the President.

Then, the addition of the TNI's main tasks in military operations other than war from the original 14 main tasks to 16 main tasks. The addition is the authority to assist in efforts to overcome cyber threats; and help protect, save citizens and national interests abroad.

Furthermore, the addition of civilian positions in ministries/institutions that can be filled by active TNI soldiers from the original 10 ministries/institutions to 14 ministries/institutions.

Previously, active soldiers could hold positions in offices that were in charge of coordinating the fields of State Politics and Security, State Defense, Presidential Military Secretary, State Intelligence, State Cryptography, National Resilience Institute, National Defense Council, National Search and Rescue (SAR), National Narcotics, and the Supreme Court.

In the TNI Bill, it was changed to soldiers being able to hold positions in ministries/institutions that are in charge of coordinating the political and security fields of the country, national defense including the national defense council, the state secretariat which handles presidential secretariat affairs and the presidential military secretariat, as well as state intelligence.

In addition, soldiers can also hold positions in ministries/institutions that handle cyber and/or state codes, national resilience institutions, search and rescue, national narcotics, border management, disaster management, counter-terrorism, maritime security, the Indonesian Attorney General's Office, and the Supreme Court.

"Apart from the positions that can be filled by active soldiers, soldiers can also occupy other civilian positions but must resign or retire from active military service," said Utut.

In addition, the revision concerns the addition of the military service period. Initially, soldiers carried out military service until the maximum age of 58 years for officers, and 53 years for non-commissioned officers and privates, then it was changed in the TNI Bill to the service period according to the soldier's rank.

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.

TNI, Sjafrie emphasized, is a state apparatus tasked with defending, protecting and maintaining the unity of the Republic of Indonesia. The TNI Law stipulates that TNI is built and developed professionally. TNI is a people's army, a fighter army, a national army, and a professional army, but along with the dynamics of the strategic environment such as changes in geopolitics and global military technology, it requires TNI to transform to support a realistic state geostrategy in order to face conventional and non-conventional threats.

"As a sovereign country, the Republic of Indonesia must have a realistic defense strategy to be able to survive, protect and maintain the continuity of the Republic of Indonesia," he added.

At the end of his speech, Sjafrie conveyed the government's gratitude to the DPR for approving the ratification of the TNI Bill. He also thanked the non-governmental organizations that participated in making corrections even though they were outside the TNI Bill process.

"We are part of the Indonesian nation that must maintain harmony. The TNI guarantees harmony and national unity for the good of all of us in facing threats that are an inseparable part of us having to carry out activities that are not necessary," he said.