By: Farhan Farisan )*
The TNI is back in the public spotlight after the Indonesian House of Representatives passed the Draft Law (RUU) on Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Army on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The amendments contain a number of adjustments to the challenges of the times and the need for national defense reform.
The addition of duties and authorities regulated in the new TNI Law is intended to clarify the boundaries of the TNI’s role in national and state life. The TNI remains within the framework of a democratic system and civil supremacy as the main principle.
As a major component in the country’s defense system, the TNI continues to play a strategic role in maintaining the sovereignty and integrity of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. The function and role of the TNI are not limited to war, but also include operations other than war that remain based on national defense interests.
Head of the TNI Information Center, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, said that the revision of the law is not a form of expanding military power. He ensured that the TNI continues to respect and support civilian supremacy in the democratic system currently adopted by Indonesia.
According to Kristomei, suggestions and criticisms coming from the public are an important part of the security sector reform process. This is needed as public control over military institutions that must be adaptive to the demands of the times.
Kristomei’s assertion was delivered to refute the concerns of a number of civil society groups who considered the revision of the TNI Law to have the potential to revive the concept of ABRI’s dual function as in the New Order era. He assured that this would not happen.
He added that most of the current generation of TNI do not even have experience or romanticism towards the dual function era of ABRI. Therefore, the desire to return to the past is considered unreasonable and irrelevant.
Kristomei said that all revisions in this law are aimed at strengthening the professionalism of the TNI. To that end, the TNI needs to be equipped with modern weaponry and defense systems that are in line with global technological developments.
On the other hand, improving the welfare of soldiers is also a major concern. An adequate defense budget is key to ensuring that TNI soldiers receive optimal training, equipment, and protection in carrying out their duties.
Rejection of the revision of the TNI Law has come from a number of groups, including students and civil society groups. They have voiced concerns over potential civil rights violations and military dominance in the civilian bureaucracy.
However, the General Chairperson of the DPP of the Greater Nusantara Movement Association (PGNR), Oktaria Saputra, said that the public should analyze the contents of the law comprehensively and not simply follow opinions that develop on social media.
According to Oktaria, opinions accusing the revision of the TNI Law as an attempt to seize civilian positions by the military are baseless concerns. He stated that the legislative process of this law has involved public participation and fulfilled procedural rules.
Oktaria emphasized that the discussion of this bill had been ongoing since the 2019-2024 period and was only agreed upon at the end of the DPR’s term. Eight political parties in Senayan have constitutionally approved this bill.
Furthermore, Oktaria assessed the DPR’s move as a strategic effort to open up new service space for the TNI in supporting national resilience. The addition of six new institutions for the TNI assignment space is said to be a form of adaptation to the dynamics of national and global security.
Oktaria also invited the public not to immediately reject every policy taken by the state. According to him, having an opinion is allowed, but it should be done after going through a comprehensive study and understanding.
Synergy between the TNI and the community is an important thing that must be maintained. The TNI does not stand alone, but was born from the people and for the people. Throughout its history, the TNI has always been on the side of the community in facing various national challenges.
With the new TNI Law, it is hoped that the TNI will be more professional in carrying out its duties as the guardian of the integrity of the Republic of Indonesia. This professionalism includes personnel readiness, sophisticated defense equipment, and integrity in every mission.
This paradigm shift is part of an effort to modernize military institutions that remain loyal to the principles of democracy. The TNI is not only a tool for national defense, but also a symbol of devotion to the nation and the people.
In the future, with a renewed legal basis, the TNI is expected to be able to increase its capabilities in maintaining national security, while remaining part of a democratic, peaceful, and sovereign Indonesian society.
In addition to providing clarity on the TNI’s scope of movement, the TNI Law also contains regulations regarding transparency and accountability in the implementation of TNI duties. This is an important step in ensuring that every TNI activity remains within the legal corridor and can be monitored publicly and institutionally. The revision of the TNI Law also serves as an affirmation that defense modernization must go hand in hand with a commitment to the principles of the rule of law and democracy.
With various adjustments made through the revision of the TNI Law, it is hoped that in the future TNI soldiers will be born who are not only physically tough, but also intellectually capable and have high integrity. This revision is an important milestone in the long journey of Indonesian military reform that upholds democracy, human rights, and professionalism.
)* The author is a Bandung student living in Jakarta
