Defense Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) held a hearing with Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Agus Subianto and top brass in the three TNI branches on Thursday, March 13, 2025, discussing draft amendment to Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI.

Chairman of the House’s Commission I, Utut Adianto, who presided the meeting said that Law No. 34/2004 consists of 11 chapters and 78 articles.

He cited that the revision of the TNI Law will cover 11 main clusters, including the position, role, function, duties, posture and organization, financing, institutional relations, and the deployment and use of TNI forces.

"The making of laws must not conflict with the constitution, especially Article 10 of the 1945 Constitution," Utut said.

Present at the meeting were the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Maruli Simanjuntak, Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Air Chief Marshal Mohamad Tonny Harjono, and Indonesian Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Erwin S. Aldedharma, who represented Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali.

Earlier on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Commission I also held a hearing with Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin and Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas to discuss the TNI Bill.

The Plenary Session of the House had earlier approved that the draft amendment to Law No. 34/2004 be included in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). The decision was based on the Letter of the President No. R12/Pres/02/2025 dated February 13, 2025, which stipulates that this Bill as an initiative from the government.

Bill deliberation

Deputy Chairman of the House’s Commission I, Dave Laksono, emphasized that the deliberation of the TNI Bill will be carried out quickly, but still be in compliance with existing procedures.

"Now it is in the discussion process, we will conduct a consignment and then immediately submit the team as soon as possible. We don't want to be long-winded but all the processes must be gone through," Dave told reporters after the meeting.

He added that the discussion is targeted for completion in the near future. He believed that this discussion will be completed before the Idul Fitri recess period.

"There is still time around this week and next week, if we rush, we will finish it," he said.

Reform spirit

Director of human rights group Imparsial, Ardi Manto Adiputra, criticized the revision of the TNI Law, which he considered to have been deloberated in a hurry.

"This meeting seems to be expedited or rushed in order to pass the draft revision to the TNI Law considering that until now the DPR and the government have never published an academic paper or draft bill on amendments to the TNI Law," Ardi said in a written statement on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

He cited that the revision of the TNI Law is contrary to the spirit of reform, especially regarding the expansion of civilian positions for active TNI soldiers.

"Imparsial views the substance of the revision of the TNI Law that is currently being carried out as contrary to the spirit of Reformasi. First, there is an expansion of civilian positions that can be occupied by active TNI soldiers," he said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the expansion of the TNI's role in the civilian realm violates the mandate of Reformasi, which emphasizes the elimination of the TNI's Dual Function. 

"The expansion of the TNI's role in the civilian realm,including the expansion of the TNI in civilian positions,violates the mandate of Reformasi for the elimination of the TNI's Dual Function and the TNI as a state defense tool as mandated by People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Decree No. VI and VIII of 2000," he said.