Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Al Araf, Senior Researcher from Imparsial and Chairperson of the Centra Initiative, has disclosed several commitments made by the House of Representatives (DPR) during a hearing with the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform concerning the revision of the Indonesian Military or TNI Law. He said that a key focus of these commitments pertains to the military's role in civilian positions.

Al Araf reported that the TNI Law revision working committee from the DPR's Commission I indicated that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has been removed from the list of positions previously designated for active soldiers. Furthermore, within the Attorney General's Office, active soldiers will now be restricted to the position of Deputy Attorney General for Military Justice (Jampidmil).

"Apart from that, they must retire as stated by the task force. We will see what the draft will look like because it is still being discussed," Al Araf said following the hearing at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Additionally, he mentioned that adjustments are being made to the scope of non-war military operations. Initially, cyber operations were included within this category. However, the TNI Law revision task force has clarified that cyber operations will be limited to defense-related activities. "So, its aspect is more external than internal," he explained.

Earlier, a DPR member revealed that the TNI Law revision task force had implemented several changes to previously stipulated clauses, beginning last Monday. These changes specifically address civilian positions that can be held by TNI personnel, as outlined in Article 47 paragraph (1) of the draft law revision.

He noted that the task force has eliminated several civilian positions from the prior agreements. Specifically, the offices dealing with maritime affairs and fisheries, as well as the national narcotics agency, have been removed from the list.

Furthermore, he stated that the task force has also removed the expansion of TNI's duties as detailed in Article 7 of the TNI Law. According to initial discussions, the TNI was to be tasked with handling narcotics. However, the task force has now proposed the removal of this additional duty.

When asked for confirmation, Deputy House Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad did not deny these changes. "I synchronized with the Chair of Commission I," he said regarding the removal of several civilian positions in Article 47 during the synchronization meeting on Monday, March 17, 2025.

– Andi Adam Fathurrahman contributed to this article.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1987953/imparsial-reports-on-tni-law-revision-promise