Critics Say New Military Law Threatens Indonesia’s Democracy

The Indonesian legislature passed a revision of its military law to allow military officers to serve in additional government posts without having to first resign or retire, a move that set off concern by rights groups and protests Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

The revision changes a 2004 law that reduced the military’s presence in civilian affairs and allowed active duty military officers to serve in government only when related to security, defense, or intelligence.

Before the revision, active duty military personnel were only permitted to serve in 10 civilian institutions, including the Ministry of Defense and the National Intelligence Agency. The new law increases that number to 14 including the Attorney General’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs.

The law also introduces a new clause granting the president the authority to assign military personnel to other ministries as needed.

Protests broke out on Thursday in the capital Jakarta. Since Wednesday, hundreds of pro-democracy demonstrators have been camping outside parliament to protest the changes. More protests are expected this week.

Critics said the new measure is dangerous to Indonesia’s young democracy and risks returning the country to the 1967-1998 “New Order” era of President Suharto’s military dictatorship, in which the government was led by generals, according to Reuters.

Critics worry that greater involvement by the military in civilian roles means restoring the “dual function” the army had under Suharto’s dictatorship, when the military held reserved seats in the legislature, and officers occupied numerous civilian positions, from district chiefs to cabinet ministers.

This system transformed the armed forces into a political instrument, allowing Suharto to suppress his opponents once he became president, analysts said.

Another major criticism is that the new law was discussed in secret, with little public input, and in an accelerated process.

Indonesia’s Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, a former army general, defended the law, saying it was properly considered and necessary to enhance military effectiveness amid geopolitical shifts and technological advancements that could lead to both “conventional and non-conventional conflicts.”

All eight political parties in parliament supported the revision pushed by President Prabowo Subianto – a former special forces commander and Suharto’s son-in-law – who has been expanding the military’s involvement in public areas since he took office in October, the BBC noted.

Indonesian rights group, Imparsial, found nearly 2,600 active-duty officers in civilian roles even before the law was revised.