The Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, recently took the initiative to distribute the draft of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Bill to journalists. This action was prompted by circulating concerns on social media claiming discrepancies between the bill being discussed within the DPR and the drafts online. Dasco clarified that the versions circulating online differ from the one under discussion in Commission I of the DPR RI. The focus of the bill revisions is to fortify legal frameworks to prevent future violations, with particular attention to three key articles.
The areas under review include Article 3, Paragraph (2) concerning defense policy and strategy coordination, Article 53 regarding the retirement age of TNI personnel, and Article 47 that allows active-duty TNI personnel to hold positions in specific ministries or government institutions. Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin had previously presented a list of problem inventories (DIM) for the TNI Bill to the DPR, proposing amendments to the current TNI Law. Sjafrie reassured that the revisions solely target the three specified articles, safeguarding civilian supremacy in the roles and operations of the TNI.
The distribution of the draft to journalists was intended to dispel misconceptions and criticisms surrounding the TNI Bill. Dasco encouraged journalists to review the draft themselves to grasp the revisions and address any concerns raised on social media. The primary objective remains to uphold civilian supremacy within the TNI, with the DPR dedicated to transparent discussions and legal enhancements in defense-related policies.
