Indonesian parliament grants military bigger role in government

Academics and rights activists fear backsliding on civilian control

20250319 Indonesian military exercise

Indonesian military personnel on a recent exercise: Moves to expand the armed forces' role in civilian government has sparked concern among academics and activists. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)

ISMI DAMAYANTI

JAKARTA -- Indonesia's House of Representatives has passed revisions to a law on the Indonesian military (TNI), allowing active-duty personnel to assume positions in a wider range of civilian institutions.

Critics warn the changes signal a return of the military's "dual function," in which it plays a prominent role in both government as well as defense, a practice that was ended as part of the country's transition to democracy after the toppling of the late dictator Suharto in 1998.

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