Indonesia’s parliament has passed revisions to the country’s military law, drawing sharp criticism from civil society groups and sparking widespread protests, as concerns grow over the increasing military influence on civilian life.
The law, approved on Thursday, allocates more civilian positions for military officers, a move that critics say could take the country back to the authoritarian era of former President Suharto. Under Suharto’s regime, the military held significant control over civilian affairs, and many fear the new revisions will return Indonesia to this model of governance.
Speaker Puan Maharani led the unanimous vote, defending the revisions as being in line with the principles of democracy, human rights, and civil supremacy. However, the law’s expansion of military involvement in civilian sectors has been met with resistance, particularly from students and activists, who argue that it could lead to abuses of power and undermine democratic freedoms.
The revisions to the military law include provisions for military officers to take up civilian posts, such as in the Attorney General’s Office, once they resign from the armed forces. However, there were concerns that officers might be allowed to join state-owned businesses—a part of the legislation that was not altered. Critics argue that such moves could further entrench the military in civilian affairs, raising fears of a return to the repressive “New Order” era.
Protests erupted outside the parliamentary building in Jakarta, where hundreds of students rallied against the revisions. In tense scenes, some protesters burned tires and clashed with police, while others attempted to breach the gates of parliament. Activists raised banners reading “New Order Strikes Back” and “Take the military back to the barracks,” echoing fears of the past returning.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern that the military’s growing role in civilian governance could lead to human rights violations and impunity. Usman Hamid, the head of Amnesty International in Indonesia, who had protested against the Suharto regime, warned that the country might be heading backward. “Activists were kidnapped and some have not returned home. And today it feels like we’re going backwards,” he said.
The law also extends the retirement age for military officers, which some analysts, like Evan Laksmana from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, argue could harm the professionalism of the armed forces by limiting opportunities for promotions and reducing the potential for training and standardization of military equipment.
The government defended the revisions, with Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin stating that the changes were necessary to adapt the military to modern challenges, including both conventional and non-conventional conflicts. Despite this, many Indonesians remain wary about the increasing power of the military in their everyday lives, and the situation is expected to remain tense in the coming weeks.
