Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition is once again taking to the streets on Thursday, March 27, 2025, to voice their rejection of the newly-ratified of TNI Law.
This demonstration plan was confirmed by the Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid.
"Militarism and oligarchy increasingly threaten our democracy. The revision of the TNI Law opens the door for the military to enter civilian domains, contradicting the reform mandate that emphasizes civilian supremacy," said Usman in his statement on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
As is well known, the passing of the TNI Law has sparked strong criticism from the public, who oppose the return of military personnel to civilian positions. The public believes that the revision of this law revives the dual function of the military.
As a form of resistance, civil society groups and students from various regions have taken to the streets to hold demonstrations. In Jakarta, for example, the protest started in the morning near the House of Representatives building (DPR), coinciding with the day of the law's enactment. Similar protests with the same demands also took place in Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya.
In addition to demanding the repeal of the TNI Law, Usman emphasized that this demonstration also rejects the Draft Law on the Indonesian National Police (Police Law). He argued that the revision, which constitutes the third amendment to Law No. 2 of 2002, potentially grants excessive authority to the police, allowing them to intervene in civilian affairs.
"The Police Law could provide excessive power, further strengthening the state's repressive control," he stated.
The Chairperson of Central Initiative, Al Araf, also confirmed the news of this demonstration. He distributed a pamphlet calling for "Jakarta Action," featuring a red and black background with hashtags such as #CabutUUTNI, #TolakUUPolri, and #IndonesiaGelap.
The pamphlet indicated that today's demonstration would take place around the parliamentary building and would start at 01:30 PM WIB.
At the bottom of the pamphlet, a statement reads, "Everyone is welcome except the authorities!" However, Al Araf admitted that he was unsure of the exact number of participants. "I don't know the exact number," he said when contacted separately.