The House of Representatives (DPR) passed the revision of Law No.34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (TNI) during the 15th plenary session of the 2nd period of the House’s 2024-2025 hearing year on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

House Speaker Puan Maharani said that changes in the revised law would not threaten civilian supremacyamidst a series of mass Student rallies in the State capital Jakarta; West Java capital of Bandung; Central Java capital of Semarang and city of Surakarta; East Java capital of Surabaya.

Then, Yogyakarta Special Region, which is also popularly known as the country’s “Student City”; and South Sulawesi capital of Makassar on Thursday.

"We hope that the revised TNI Law that has been ratified will be beneficial for the development of the Nation and the State," Puan spoke to the media after the session.

She emphasized that the TNI law revision had gone through mature and transparent discussions, while dismissing concerns regarding potential threats to civilian supremacy and democratic rights of the people, including the freedom to express aspirations.

She also ensured that the safety of protesters would remain guaranteed after the TNI Bill ratification.

Puan cited that the House’s Working Committee (Panja) had always provided information to the public after each of the deliberation sessions. However, she stressed that the information conveyed during the deliberation phases cannot be used as a final decision until ratification of the revised law is carried out.

A few days earlier, the Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform criticized the deliberation on the Amendment to Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI at Fairmont Hotel Jakarta on March 14-15, 2025 as it was carried out secretly amidst public scrutiny on the substance of the revised TNI Law which is considered problematic.

The coalition, which consists of various organizations such as Imparsial, YLBHI, KontraS, Amnesty International Indonesia, and LBH Jakarta, strongly criticized the House’s and government's measures in discussing this bill in a hurry and without public involvement.

They considered revision of the TNI Law as having the potential to threaten democracy, human rights enforcement, and weaken the military professionalism. 

Main changes in the TNI Bill

In the plenary meeting, Puan said that the revision of the TNI Law only focuses on three main issues, namely the expansion of military operations other than war, the addition of civilian posts that can be held by active TNI personnel, and changes to soldiers’ mandatory age of retirement.

1. Changes to Article 7: Additional duties for military operations other than war

The new Article 7 adds two new tasks in military operations other than war (OMSP), namely resolving cyber defense threats, and protecting and safeguarding citizens and national interests abroad.

With this change, there are now 16 tasks under TNI’s OMSP scope from the originally 14. Puan emphasized that this revision aims to strengthen the role of the TNI in facing increasingly complex national security challenges.

2. Changes to Article 47: Civilian posts that can be held by active TNI personnel
 
In this revision, the number of ministerial/institutional posts that can be held by active TNI soldiers has increased from 10 to 14. The additions include:

•​National Border Management Agency (BNPP)

•​National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB)

•​National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT)

•​Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla)

•​Attorney General ‘s Office (Junior Attorney General for Military Crimes)

3. Changes to Article 53: Soldiers’ manadatory age of retirement
 
The revision to Article 53 stipulates changes to the retirement age for TNI soldiers based on rank and position. The following are the details of the changes:

•​Non-commissioned officers and privates: maximum 55 years of age

•​Officers up to the rank of colonel: maximum 58 yearsof age

•​1-star general: maximum 60 yearsof age

•​2-star general: maximum 61 years of age

•​3-star general: maximum 62 years of age

•​4-star general: maximum 63 years of age, with the possibility of extension up to two times (total 2 years) based on presidential decree

Puan reiterated that changes made are for the interest of the nation, not as an effort to expand military authority in civilian life.

"We want to ensure that this revision brings benefits to the Nation and the State. We will monitor its implementation so that it will remain in accordance with the spirit of TNI reforms," she said.