JakartaPost-June 25, 2025
After months of street protests, public opposition to a recent revision of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law that many see as potentially expanding the military’s power has moved into the courtroom, as the Constitutional Court has kicked off hearings for judicial review petitions against the law. During a hearing on Monday, court justices heard from representatives of the government and House of Representatives about the petitions against the law revision that was passed in March. Unlike other judicial review hearings where the government and House only send first or second echelon officials to the court, Monday’s hearing was attended by political bigwigs. Both House and government representatives told the court that the justices should dismiss the petitions, claiming that the plaintiff’s allegations were unfounded, arguing that the plaintiffs, consisting of university students and activists, did not have a legal standing to file their petitions as they were not directly affected by the law. “They are not active TNI members, prospective soldiers or employees in agencies that are potentially disadvantaged by the term of office that can be held by military personnel,” the PDI-P politician said Read also: New TNI Law sees ‘historic’ legal pushback “[We hope] the court will reject the petitions in their entirety or at least declare their petitions inadmissible,” he continued. Among the contentious articles in the TNI Law revision are the expansion of state institutions in which active military officers can be appointed without requiring them to resign or retire early from service. The law also broadens the scope of non-combat operations for the military and raises the retirement age for active-duty officers. Critics argue that the articles will pave the way to the broadening of the military’s role in civilian affairs, marking the return of militarism that was rampant during former president Soeharto’s New Order regime. Among the five judicial review petitions heard, four were filed by law students at the University of Indonesia (UI), Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and Padjajaran University. Another petition was filed by Inayah Wahid, daughter of late president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid, along with a coalition of civic groups advocating for security sector reform. Read more at:
