JakartaPost-Sept 17
The Constitutional Court was scheduled to rule on Wednesday on challenges to the revision the Indonesian Military (TNI) law allowing a greater armed forces role in civilian affairs, among the sources of anger that have stoked widespread anti-government protests. The court was due to decide on five petitions against amendments that plaintiffs say were bulldozed through the House of Representatives in March without proper public consultation, amid concerns of an expansion of the military’s involvement in civilian life under President Prabowo Subianto. Fears are growing in the country that Prabowo is turning increasingly to the armed forces to help deliver his ambitious agenda after just 11 months in office, reviving memories of the military-dominated 1966-1998 New Order era of authoritarian rule. Prabowo has appointed former generals to key posts and has deployed the military for various tasks, including handling street protests, implementing initiatives on free school meals and food security, manufacturing medicines and seizing palm oil plantations for a new state-owned firm. The rulings come at a time of festering anger following two weeks of at times violent demonstrations over issues from lawmakers’ allowances and state budget priorities to police conduct and perceptions of creeping militarization in Indonesia, presenting Prabowo with his first major test. In early September, the military was deployed in the capital after six the nationwide protests. The petitions argue the amendments to TNI law lacked transparency and public participation before being passed by a parliament overwhelmingly allied with the president, and have called for the changes to be annulled. Read more at
