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March 18, 2025 | 01:11 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), under Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri, initially opposed the revision of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Law in mid-2024.
However, the party, symbolized by a bull, now backs the discussion of the bill.
The Head of PDIP's Central Executive Board, Puan Maharani, explained the party's current support for the deliberation of the amendment to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the TNI.
"The rejection was before we discussed it together," she said at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta on Monday, March 17, 2025.
Puan emphasized that the revision of the TNI Law currently being discussed by the House of Representatives' Commission I and the government will not revive the dual function of the military as in the New Order era. Furthermore, she stated that the revision process has involved public participation.
"There is no longer anything suspicious," said the Chairwoman of the People's Consultative Assembly.
According to Puan, her party's faction in the House of Representatives will continue to oversee the deliberation process of this TNI Law revision until its implementation. "The presence of PDIP is actually to correct any discrepancies, if any," she said.
Furthermore, Puan stated that TNI Bill is still in the process of discussion in the Working Committee (Panja) for the revision of the TNI Law of the House of Representatives Commission I together with the Government.
"So please see the results of the Panja, as our friends have also received the results of the Panja that we will decide together," she said.
She also stressed that active TNI members must resign if they hold positions outside the 16 ministries/agencies determined by the House of Representatives and the Government in the revision of the TNI Law.
"If they are not in those positions, active TNI members must resign. This is already clear in the revision of the TNI Law," she said.
Megawati Rejects TNI Bill
In mid-July 2024, Megawati Soekarnoputri opposed the proposed revision of the TNI Law put forward by the House of Representatives. She argued that revising the TNI and Police Laws would reinstate the dual function of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Megawati voiced her concerns during a speech at the National Working Meeting of the Perindo Party in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 30.
"The MPR Decree must be upheld, ensuring the separation between the TNI and the Police. But now, they are being equated? I don't understand the reasoning behind this," she stated, as quoted by Antara.
Megawati further pointed out that if the two institutions were treated equally, both the Indonesian Air Force and the Police would have aircraft. While she acknowledged that the proposed revisions primarily addressed retirement age, she questioned the need for broader changes.
"If it's just about age, let it be. There's no need to equate them like this—what's the point?" she added.
Novali Panji Nugroho, Hendrik Yaputra, and Antara contributed to the writing of this article.
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