March 28, 2025 | 09:05 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Widespread protests calling for the repeal of the TNI Law continue to unfold across multiple regions in Indonesia, with thousands of civilians taking to the streets to voice their opposition to its ratification.
Usman Hamid, a representative of the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform, views these large-scale demonstrations as a sign of public awareness regarding the resurgence of the military's dual function.
"This contradicts the spirit of reform, which upholds civilian supremacy," Usman stated when contacted on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Usman added that beyond restoring the TNI's dual function and weakening civilian supremacy, the TNI Law was drafted through an unusual process with little public involvement.
He mentioned that the lack of public participation is not a one-time occurrence in the House of Representatives deliberation and drafting of bills, but rather a frequent issue.
"The public has clearly rejected it, but then it is ignored," he said.
Separately contacted, Charles Simabura, a Constitutional Law Lecturer at Andalas University, stated that the House's disregard for public participation is not something new.
He cited that in 2022, the House attempted to overhaul Law Number 12 of 2011 concerning the Formation of Legislation to accommodate the terminology of the Omnibus Law.
The problem is, this revision was done in a reckless manner to legitimize Law Number 11 of 2020 concerning Job Creation, which was previously conditionally declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court.
"There are interests underlying why it needs to be rushed and disregard meaningful participation," said Charles.
Yance Arizona, a Constitutional Law Lecturer at Gadjah Mada University, stated that the hasty deliberation of bills in the DPR often leads to formal-material judicial review petitions in the Constitutional Court.
According to him, the numerous petitions submitted to the MK against bills deliberated in the DPR indicate how reckless the legislative process undertaken by legislators in Senayan is.
"It means (the numerous petitions) indicate that the legislative process is done haphazardly without considering anything," said Yance.
He also urged for the deliberation of other bills such as the Criminal Procedure Code and the Police Law to be conducted in accordance with the procedures and the Constitutional Court's ruling that requires meaningful participation.
Vice Chairman of the House's Law Commission Hinca Panjaitan stated that his commission will involve significant public participation in the deliberation and drafting process of bills, including the KUHAP and Police Law bills.
"It is an obligation, not something that can be negotiated," said Hinca.
On March 20, amidst the wave of rejection, the 15th plenary session of the DPR in the second session of 2024-2025 ratified the TNI Law into legislation.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives for Politics and Security Sufmi Dasco Ahmad responded to the wave of rejection from civil society towards the ratification of the TNI Law.
"It's just the dynamics of politics, isn't it? It's a democracy," said Gerindra Party politician.
Editor's Choice: Civil Society to File Judicial Review of TNI Law Over Flawed Process, Power Grab
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Today's Top 3 News: Jakarta to Deploy Nearly 3,000 Sanitation Officers to Anticipate Eid Holiday
4 jam lalu

Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Police Deploy Water Cannons as TNI Law Repeal Protest Heats Up
1 hari lalu

The protest calling for the repeal of TNI Law in front of DPR building continues today, with police using water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Civil Society to File Judicial Review of TNI Law Over Flawed Process, Power Grab
1 hari lalu

Civil Society submits the material review as a corrective action against the ratification of the problematic TNI law revision.
BEM SI to Protest Today, Demanding TNI Law Repeal, Rejecting Police Bill
1 hari lalu

BEM SI along with the civil coalition will hold a demonstration once again to demand the repeal of the TNI Law and reject the Police Bill.
Civil Society Takes to the Streets Again Today to Demand TNI Law Repeal
1 hari lalu

The Civil Society Coalition will hold a demonstration today at the DPR building area to demand the repeal of the TNI Law.
SAFEnet: 'Foreign Stooge' Narrative Used to Delegitimize Protest Against TNI Law Revision
2 hari lalu

There are videos of individuals criticizing TNI Law revision, accompanied by accusations that they were foreign agents seeking to divide the nation.
LBH Malang: 6 Anti-TNI Law Protesters Released, Missing Individuals Have Returned Home
2 hari lalu

Previously, there were six protesters from the anti-revision of the TNI Law rally in Malang who were arrested by the police.
Today's Top 3 News: Indonesia Beats Bahrain 1-0 in 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
2 hari lalu

Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Defense Ministry: Cyber Operations to Counter Threats to National Sovereignty
2 hari lalu

The Indonesian Military (TNI) will conduct information and disinformation operations to counter threats to national sovereignty in cyberspace.
Today's TNI Generation Has No Interest in Reviving Military Dual Function, Spokesperson Says
2 hari lalu

Head of Information Center of TNI stated that the current generation of TNI does not want to return to the New Order era that activated the dual function of ABRI.