Indonesia’s law that gives armed forces more role in government sparks anger

Indonesia’s Parliament has accepted conflicting changes in the legislation that will allow its military to be a greater role in the government.

Critics warn that this step can return Indonesia on the dark days of the Sukhrti military dictatorship, which lasted 32 years until it was forced to withdraw from office in 1998.

Reviews backed by the President of the Subsont – former commander of the special forces and son -in -law of Sukhrti – allow military officers to engage in positions in the government, not pre -leaving the departure and without leaving the armed forces.

Hundreds of pro -democratic activists have been located outside the parliament since Wednesday to protest.

“The essence of democracy is that the military should not participate in politics. The military must only govern the barracks and national defense,” said Wilson, an activist of the Indonesian Association of Families of the Mad (Kontras), a group who has disappeared during the repression in 1997.

“Since 1998, a creeping murder of democracy has taken place.

Revision allows active servicemen to hold positions in 14 civilian institutions, which compared to 10. They also raise the retirement age by several years. Now with a high rating can serve up to 63, which is compared to 60.

By Thursday evening, a crowd of participants of the rally outside the parliament grew up to almost a thousand. “Return the military to the barracks!” “Against militarism and oligarchy,” the banners they conducted.

Police and military officers stood guard around the protesters.

Although they have been efforts over the last 25 years to restrict the participation of the military in politics and management, local human rights certificates have found that nearly 2,600 active official officers performed in civilian roles Even before the revision of the law.

The changes signal the “broader consolidation of the authorities” under the sorrow, said Dedi Diarte, the leading analyst of Indonesia in the global lawyer for state policy.

What the main opposition party supported the changes – despite the initial opposition – he further emphasizes this change, he noted.

“Having built the military prospects in civil spheres, the legislation can transfer the direction of Indonesia’s policy by potentially prioritizing the stability and the state control over democratic administration and civil liberties,” Mr. Diarte said.

The “double function” of the armed forces, where they are given control over security and administrative affairs, were the main one in Sukhort.

For some Indonesians, the authoritarian era embodies. It was he who led the special forces units accused of abduction of activists in 1997 and 1998.

Many were afraid that his return to political power and the state of the president would destroy the rigid but fragile democracy.

Since his post in October last year, he has already expanded the participation of the military in public. For example, his flagship program of $ 4 billion for children and pregnant women receives material and technical support from the armed forces.

Protecting the amendments on Thursday, the SJAFRIE SJAMSOEDDin Minister said in the Parliament “Geopolitical Changes and World Military Technologies” demand from the military into “ordinary and non -ordinary conflicts”.

“We will never disappoint the Indonesians by keeping our sovereignty,” he said.

However, some legal groups claim that increasing military control in the public beyond defense will undergo impartiality.

“How can active officials remain impartial officers of the Prosecutor General’s Office if they are still associated with the military command?” Virdik Risky Utama asked, a researcher from analytical centers based in Jakarta, Benar News reports.

“If the military acquires an impact on the justice system, who will prosecute them?”

“The President of Pravo appears to be intended to restore the role of Indonesian servicemen in civil affairs, which have long been characterized by broad abuse and impunity,” said Andreas Harson, Senior researcher of Indonesia in Human Rights Watch.

“The government’s special amendments reduces its expressed commitment to human rights and accountability.”

Counterpart also noted that “to hurry to make a change (law) stands in a sharp contrast to other critical obligations on human rights.”

“This long struggle cannot stop just because the law has been passed. There is only one word: resistance,” said Sukma Aya, a student at Universitas Muhammadiyah, Professor Hamak in Jakarta.

“We will continue to protest until we require victories … We have nothing left to do how to take” House of People “,” she said.