Prabowo wants return of military to civil service management, human rights defenders criticise

Gerakan Nurani Bangsa, which brings together several prominent figures in Indonesian society, has asked parliament to block the revision of the law on the armed forces, which would bring the military leadership back into government ministries and agencies. ‘There is no urgency; the law undermines the professionalism of the military and democracy,’ warned the opponents. According to experts, President Prabowo aims to recreate a military chain of command.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Some human rights groups have urged the Indonesian parliament to reject proposals to revise the law on the armed forces, which could assign some positions in the country's civil administration to the top ranks of the army and should be approved tomorrow in plenary session.

Today the Gerakan Nurani Bangsa (National Conscience Movement), which brings together several prominent figures in Indonesian society, also expressed its concern.

According to Alissa Wahid, daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, such a rapid approval of the legislation is not necessary: ‘What is the urgency behind this haste? Our request is clear: cancel the revision of the law, not just postpone its approval in plenary session. The law would only undermine military professionalism’, said Wahid during a press conference in Jakarta, which was also attended by the former Minister of Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo and several other religious and academic personalities.

Their request is that the revision not be approved before the festival that marks the end of Ramadan and that an in-depth discussion on the matter take place with the involvement of public opinion.

‘The trust of the population is determined by several factors: the integrity of the politicians in charge, the intentions behind the policies, followed by discussions on competence and precedents. We are aware of past cases where policies were rushed and kept hidden from civil society,‘ Wahid added, referring to regulations such as those on the granting of mining licences.

In particular, Gerakan Nurani Bangsa emphasised that the rigid hierarchy of the armed forces (known by the acronym TNI in Indonesia), which is positive for military organisations, could be harmful to democracy if applied to civil institutions, ‘with the risk of violating human rights in the management of community life’, pointed out Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.

The debate on the role of the military within civil society has been ongoing for months in Indonesia, following the election as president of Prabowo Subianto, former Minister of Defence during the government of his predecessor Joko Widodo, but also former commander of the special forces Kopassus, accused of human rights violations between the 80s and 90s.

The concerns of civil society have led to open tensions with the government: recently a coalition of human rights groups interrupted a closed-door meeting between legislators discussing proposed revisions to military law.

The armed forces spokesman, General Hariyanto, defended the proposed amendments, arguing that it is necessary to adapt the tasks and roles of the military to the demands of contemporary society. ‘The revision should allow active military personnel to occupy key positions in ministries and other government agencies,’ the general explained.

Currently, at least 2,500 active military personnel hold various civilian positions in Indonesia. The amendments, which among other things, of the so-called ‘dual function’ doctrine, known as ‘Dwi Fungsi TNI’, a policy introduced by the dictator Suharto that allowed the military to intervene in civilian governance. The political reforms of 1998, which opened up Indonesia's democratic phase after decades of authoritarian rule, had eliminated this doctrine, placing both the police and the armed forces under civilian leadership and minimising the military's involvement in civilian life.

According to Professor Koerniatmanto Soetaprawiro, a law expert at Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, the proposed legislative changes could be driven by the personal ambitions of President Subianto, who, as a former commander of the army's special forces, is believed to favour a military-style chain of command within his administration.

Professor Koerniatmanto observed that Prabowo ‘may doubt that his orders are actually being carried out under civilian leadership, particularly when politicians in Indonesia often prioritise loyalty to their political party over the direction of the government’.