JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS — The Indonesian government has recently presented the Draft of the Revised National Military Bill (RUU TNI) to parliament, a proposal that continues to provoke strong opposition from civil society groups.

The government’s revision still contains problematic provisions that would revive the controversial dual function (dwi fungsi) of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), giving the military greater involvement in civilian sectors and perpetuating militarism in the country.

A coalition of civil society organizations has voiced its opposition to the proposed revisions, stressing that the existing Law No. 34/2004 on the Indonesian National Army is still relevant and should remain in place. According to the coalition, there is no urgent need for the revision, and instead, focus should be placed on modernizing the military’s equipment and improving the welfare of military personnel without resorting to further militarization.

The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform is composed of several organizations, including Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS, Amnesty International Indonesia, and others. These organizations collectively advocate for democratic governance, human rights, and a professional military that serves the nation without overstepping its boundaries.

The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform works to promote accountability, transparency, and human rights in Indonesia’s security sector, advocating for reforms to ensure that the military’s role remains strictly within the realm of national defense. Ardi Manto Adiputra (Imparsial), Wahyudi Djafar (Elsam) Julius Ibrani (PBHI), Hafidz Muhammad (Centra Initiative)
, Usman Hamid (Amnesty International Indonesia)

The Civil Society Coalition believes that the draft of the revised bill continues to grant TNI the ability to hold civilian positions that were originally intended for non-military personnel. One particularly concerning element of the bill is the proposal to expand the TNI’s role in civilian institutions, such as the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP). This, the coalition argues, is a blatant attempt to reinstate the dual function of the military (dwi fungsi), a policy that has long been criticized for giving the military too much power in political and civilian affairs.

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