On March 20, the Indonesian House of Representatives passed significant revisions to the 2004 Law on the Indonesian Armed Forces. After a series of clandestine deliberations conducted in luxury hotels, the amendments sped through the House less than a month after their introduction and President Prabowo Subianto’s written endorsement. The bill passed with strong multiparty support from a coalition strongly aligned with Prabowo. These amendments come at a pivotal time for Prabowo, who has sought to expand Indonesia’s presence on the world stage and improve its defense standing.
The amended law will test the strength of Indonesia’s post-1998 democratic institutions. These amendments allow military officers to assume civilian posts in more governmental bodies than before, including the Attorney General’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, without needing to resign or retire. Moreover, the new law includes provisions to extend retirement ages for senior officers and broaden the scope of the military’s non-combat operations. The president also gains the authority to appoint military personnel. Indonesian defense minister Sjafrie Sjamoeddin insists that these military reforms would create a stronger military capable of responding to modern security threats.
Opponents of these reforms argue that increased military involvement in Indonesia’s civilian government paves the way for abuses of power, human rights violations, and continued military impunity. Allowing the military into bodies such as the Supreme Court raises concerns about continued military impunity in Indonesia and impartiality. Moreover, the law invokes the specter of 30 years of military rule under Suharto, when the military had reserved seats in the Indonesian parliament and military officers occupied key government positions. Prabowo’s role as a former special forces commander under Suharto, largely played down during the 2024 elections, paints a troubling picture for rights groups wary of the country’s backslide into military autocracy.
The new law sparked significant pushback from Indonesian activists, with protests erupting outside the Indonesian parliament building as it was being passed. Protests, currently spreading throughout Indonesia’s major urban centers, are experiencing pushback from government forces. Activists are alleging police brutality from deployed security forces that have been deployed to counter major protests. In Malang, East Java, student protesters were surrounded by officers who forcefully pushed them back. One victim was pulled and dragged by security forces while documenting a demonstration near the Malang City Council Building. In Yogyakarta, protests came amid reports of intimidation against student groups. Should these isolated protests evolve into nationwide discontent against Prabowo-endorsed policy, Prabowo’s ambitious domestic and international agenda could face significant setbacks.
Japhet Quitzon is an Associate Fellow for the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.
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