JAKARTA — The House of Representatives (DPR) officially ratified the revision of the Law on Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Armed Forces (UU TNI) in a plenary meeting on Thursday, March 20, 2025.
A number of changes in the regulations further clarify and limit the presence of TNI soldiers in the civilian sphere.
Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the DPR, Dave Laksono, highlighted the misunderstanding in society regarding the substance of the changes in the TNI Law.
According to him, a number of personal interpretations that have developed have created a mistaken perception regarding the contents of the regulation.
“I see that there is a communication barrier, what is the content, the final draft has not been received,” said Dave.
Dave emphasized that the TNI Law actually limits the role of the TNI in civilian positions.
He explained that the new regulation only adds certain civilian positions that can be filled by active soldiers, such as in BNPT, BNPB, and BNPP.
“That way, there are 14 civilian positions that can be filled by active TNI, outside of that, active TNI must resign or retire,” he said.
Deputy Chairman of the West Java DPRD, MQ Iswara, also emphasized that the revision of the TNI Law is not an attempt to revive the ABRI Dual Function.
He stated that the regulation was made to emphasize the limits of the TNI’s role in the civilian sphere.
“In fact, this regulation was made to emphasize that out of 10, only 14 (agencies). Outside of that, they must now resign,” said Iswara, Friday, March 28, 2025.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin added that the amendment to the TNI Law aims to strengthen the modernization of defense equipment and the domestic defense industry.
“This law is able to strengthen the policy of modernizing defense equipment and the domestic defense industry to support the strength and capability of the TNI as the guardian of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia,” he explained at the Plenary Meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta.
With this revision, the position and coordination of the TNI is increasingly clear. The TNI remains under the command of the President with strategic support from the Ministry of Defense.
The DPR hopes that this change will further strengthen the TNI’s capabilities in facing modern defense challenges and improve the welfare of soldiers and their families.
With increasingly clear boundaries, the TNI is expected to carry out its duties professionally without causing overlap with the civilian realm. (*)
