MPs warned on Suharto-era military reach into civil affairs

Indonesia must not allow further military intrusion into the civil service, activists told politicians, amid fears that a revision to a landmark military law could spark the revival of the New Order style of military dual function.

Indonesia must not allow further military intrusion into the civil service, activists told politicians, amid fears that a revision to a landmark military law could spark the revival of the New Order style of military dual function.

Last month, President Prabowo Subianto pushed forward with a revision to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law, originally passed in 2004. The House of Representatives has included the plan in its national legislation program priorities.

The revision proposal has received public criticism over a possible return to significant influence of the military in civilian affairs, which was the norm under then president Suharto, the smiling general who led an authoritarian regime from 1967 until his resignation in 1998.

Mr Prabowo, a former special forces commander who was married to Suharto’s daughter, had made several controversial appointments, including naming his aide, Major Teddy Indra Wijaya, as Cabinet Secretary without him having to leave the military.

Even before this appointment last year, there were already thousands of active military officers occupying civil service, said Al Araf, from human rights watchdog Imparsial, during a hearing with the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“According to data from the military’s legal bureau in a discussion at the National Resilience Institute in 2023, it was revealed that 2500 soldiers are holding civil service positions. If this data is accurate, it exceeds what is stipulated in the TNI Law,” he said.

Under the current law, active military officers are not allowed to get involved in politics or be a member of political parties, and are not allowed to hold civilian positions in the government except in certain sectors such as defence, security and intelligence. They have to be discharged from duty or retire from their positions before taking up certain high-level jobs in state institutions.

“Military personnel should not be allowed in civil service positions, especially if they are still on active duty … Where will their loyalty lie? With the minister or the TNI commander? I can assure you their loyalty will lie with the TNI commander. This creates a problem of dual loyalty,” Dr Araf said.

He further argued that the placement of members of the military in civil service positions could disrupt the merit system in the bureaucracy and weaken the professionalism of military officers.

At the same session, Ismail Hasani, from human rights advocacy group Setara Institute, argued that the state must adhere to civil supremacy to preserve the health of democracy. “When actors such as the military, who have the power to use force, are armed and also possess political doctrines different from civil authority, and they interfere, it will certainly be dangerous,” he said.

However, Tubagus Hasanuddin, of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, argued that fear of a return to New Order-style rule due to placement of military personnel in civil service was overplayed.

The ex-general, who served in the military from 1975 to 2009, said that as long as they are competent in the position, anyone should have the opportunity to serve, regardless of their background or rank. “If they are to be placed in the Ministry of Agriculture, they should have at least had a degree in that field. Their capacity must be enhanced,” he said.