 "People take part in a protest outside the Indonesian Parliament against revisions to the country's military law, which will allocate more civilian posts for military officers, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Reuters")
Indonesian House of Representatives on Thursday (March 20) approved changes to a legislation that critics fear may allow greater military say in the government. Mass student protests are expected in the country, Reuters reported, with civil society groups saying the bill could pull back the world’s third-largest democracy to the draconian ‘New Order’ era of former strongman president Suharto.
Current President Prabowo Subianto was a special forces commander under Suharto, and he looks focused on expanding the military’s role in the government since assuming office last October. Pro-democracy groups fear the return of dark days of Suharto’s military dictatorship, which lasted 32 years until 1998.
On Wednesday, hundreds of pro-democracy protestors camped outside the Parliament to stage protests to the changes in legislation.
Why is the bill contentious?
The bill, named Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 on Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), was passed unanimously during a plenary session presided over by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani.
The revision now allows the government to appoint military officials in 14 civilian institutions, up from 10 under previous provisions.
Retirement age for most ranks has also been raised by several years. For instance, highest ranking generals can now serve until the age of 63, up from 60.
BBC reported that the law could also pave the way for military officers to take up positions in government without first retiring or resigning from the armed forces.
However, the Indonesian government has clarified that the bill requires military officers to resign first.
A lawmaker also addressed concerns regarding military officers’ potential appointment in state-owned businesses. Lawmaker Nico Siahaan, who was involved in talks on the legislation, was quoted as saying by Reuters that military officers won’t be allowed to join state-owned companies.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHowever, rights groups insist that an increased military role in government may lead to abuses of power, human rights violations and impunity from consequences for actions.
Protests
Hundreds of students protested outside Jakarta’s parliamentary building after the revisions were passed. Some burned tires, while others pushed through the gates, as seen in television footage.
“The essence of democracy is that the military should not engage in politics. The military should only manage barracks and national defence,” Wilson, an activist from KontraS, a group advocating for those who disappeared in the 1997-1998 crackdown, was quoted as saying by BBC.
“Since 1998, there has been a creeping murder of democracy. And today marks its peak. Democracy has been killed by the House of Representatives,” Wilson added.
Despite efforts over the past 25 years to curb the military’s role in politics and governance, Imparsial, a local human rights watchdog, reported that nearly 2,600 active-duty officers were already holding civilian roles even before the law was changed.