JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS – A coalition of civil society organizations has called on the Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately halt the revision of Law No. 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).

The coalitions consists of Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS, PBHI Nasional, Amnesty International Indonesia, ELSAM, HRWG, WALHI, SETARA Institute, Centra Initiative, LBH Jakarta, LBH Pers, LBH Masyarakat, LBH Surabaya Pos Malang, ALDP, Public Virtue, ICJR, AJI Jakarta, PPMAN, BEM SI, Dejure.

The coalition warns that the proposed changes risk reviving the controversial “dual function” (Dwifungsi) of the military, which was abolished following the 1998 reform movement.

The revision, initiated by President Prabowo Subianto, has sparked widespread concern over its potential to undermine civilian supremacy and democratic principles.

The coalition has identified several problematic provisions in the draft revision, particularly the expansion of civilian positions that active TNI officers can occupy. The proposed changes to Article 47, Paragraph 2, would allow TNI personnel to hold positions in “other ministries/institutions requiring their expertise as per presidential policy.” This vague language could open the door for military personnel to infiltrate various civilian institutions, eroding the separation between military and civilian governance. Activists argue that this move contradicts the principles of reformasi (reform) and threatens the hard-won progress of Indonesia’s democratic transition.

The coalition emphasizes that placing TNI personnel in civilian roles not only undermines the professionalism of the military but also disrupts the career progression of civil servants. In 2023, Imparsial, a human rights organization, documented 2,569 active TNI personnel in civilian positions, with 29 officers holding roles outside the institutions specified by the TNI Law. This practice, the coalition argues, disregards the specialization, competence, and experience of civil servants, creating chaos in recruitment and career development within the civil service.