Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Indonesian government is reportedly preparing to sign the revised Indonesian Military or TNI Law. The House of Representatives (DPR) formally approved the revisions during a plenary session held on March 20, 2025.
Currently, the draft of the TNI Law is under review by the Minister of State Secretary. Deputy Minister of State Secretary, Bambang Eko Suhariyanto, stated that he has not had the chance to examine it in detail. "I am currently out of town," Bambang Eko Suhariyanto told Tempo via a WhatsApp message on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
A source within the Gerindra Party indicated that Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi is preparing for the signing of the revised TNI Law. Discussions regarding the signing have been ongoing for approximately a week leading up to the Eid al-Fitr holiday. The finalized version of the TNI Law is expected to be released about a week after Eid al-Fitr, once it has been officially signed by the government.
However, the TNI Law continues to face significant opposition. Civil society organizations and student groups are urging the DPR and the government to rescind the revisions due to concerns about the process and the substance of the law.
Critics argue that the TNI Law represents a regression towards the military's dual function, a concept associated with past authoritarian regimes. Moreover, the expansion of the military's role into cyberspace has raised fears of increased civilian surveillance.
Protests against the TNI Law have been held in several major cities, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Malang, and Yogyakarta. Dave Akbarshah Fikarno Laksono, Deputy Chair of the DPR's Defense Commission, stated that legislators do not object to public legal challenges.
This Golkar Party politician emphasized that seeking a judicial review of the legislation by the Constitutional Court (MK) is a constitutional right. "So, if there are parties that pursue a judicial review, it is within their rights," Dave told Tempo on Sunday, March 30, 2025.
Dave deferred to the Constitutional Court's judgment on the matter. "It depends on the MK to evaluate whether it is acceptable or not," he stated.
– Hendrik Yaputra, Andi Adam Faturahman, and Andi Adam Faturahman contributed to the writing of this article.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1992837/government-poised-to-sign-controversial-tni-la