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Japan Times
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
'Pandora's box': Alarm bells ring in Indonesia over rising military role
Greater military influence in government, reporters under threat and a stuttering economy — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's first six months in power have triggered alarm bells for activists worried about a return to the country's authoritarian roots. Last month, Indonesia's parliament amended a law allowing active-duty military personnel to work in 14 state institutions — up from 10 — including the attorney general's office, which rights groups say could weaken legal checks on military abuse. The decision has critics anxious that the world's third-largest democracy could hark back to the days of dictator Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades. "The government does not realize that Indonesia has a collective trauma over (Suharto's) authoritarian New Order government," said Hussein Ahmad, deputy director of rights group Imparsial. Before Suharto was toppled by student-led protests in 1998, Prabowo was serving as a commander for an elite force to suppress unrest. He remains accused of human rights abuses, including allegations that he had ordered the abduction of activists at the end of Suharto's rule — which Prabowo has denied and never been charged for. He has since rehabilitated his image, and was elected last year on the hopes that he would continue the policies of popular predecessor Joko Widodo. Yet in the six months since coming into power, Prabowo's former life as a general has been thrust into the public eye. His administration's move to expand the military's role in government has raised eyebrows even within Indonesia's political elite. After Prabowo appointed government representatives to kick-start discussions of the law in parliament in February, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said it used to be "taboo" for military personnel to enter politics. Regional heads take their oath of office during their inauguration by Prabowo at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Feb. 20. | AFP-JIJI "It was one of the doctrines that we issued back then ... If you want to do politics, resign," he told a meeting. Presidential spokesman Hasan Nasbi denied that the new law would regress Indonesia back to Suharto's era. "This law actually limits the role ... to 14 sectors that truly need the skills and expertise relevant to (military) training," he said, adding that the critics were "inaccurate." 'Silencing' journalists After his October inauguration, Prabowo paraded his Cabinet in military fatigues at a retreat. In November, his defense minister — also a former general accused of abuses under Suharto — announced that 100 battalions would be set up to enforce the government's agenda. And Prabowo has also faced backlash in recent months for slashing government budgets, as Indonesia's flailing economy is further hit by a plummeting rupiah and see-sawing markets in reaction to Washington's tariffs. Adding to worries is a new regulation issued last month allowing police to monitor foreign journalists and researchers. It gives the police the authority to provide a permission letter when reporting from "certain locations" — though a spokesperson later said the letter was "not mandatory.. But the regulation could still spook reporters working on sensitive topics, said Human Rights Watch's Andreas Harsono. "Journalism always goes hand-in-hand with democracy," Andreas said. "If journalism is suppressed, the freedom of speech is suppressed, democracy will be paralysed." The country's press flourished after the fall of Suharto, but local reporters have in recent weeks raised fears of an environment of intimidation. Last month, Tempo magazine — which publishes articles critical of the government — was sent a pig's head and six decapitated rats. Prabowo's spokesperson denied any government role in the incident, and said an investigation was ongoing. Tempo's website also started seeing cyber attacks this month after it published an investigation into some gambling companies in Cambodia and its links to Indonesian tycoons and politicians. Journalist Francisca Christy Rosana, who was doxxed in recent weeks, said they got the message loud and clear. "This terror was not just aimed at intimidating but silencing and stopping our work." 'Fed up' Thousands across Indonesia last month protested the new law, carrying posters that called for the military to "return to the barracks." Dismissing the public's outrage over the military's potential dual role in government as "nonsense," Prabowo said he respected the people's right to protest. But if the demonstrations "create chaos and unrest, in my opinion this is against the national interest," he said in an interview earlier this month. Andrie Yunus of KontraS, the commission for missing persons and victims of violence, said the demonstrations are "the tip of the iceberg." "Civilians are fed up with the entry of militarism into civilian affairs," he said, warning that the path to a military regime "is open." "We consider the passing of the (military law) to be an attempt to open Pandora's box."
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Pandora's box': alarm bells in Indonesia over rising military role
Greater military influence in government, reporters under threat and a stuttering economy -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's first six months in power have triggered alarm bells for activists worried about a return to the country's authoritarian roots. Last month, Indonesia's parliament amended a law allowing active-duty military personnel to work in 14 state institutions -- up from 10 -- including the attorney general's office, which rights groups say could weaken legal checks on military abuse. The decision has critics anxious that the world's third-largest democracy could hark back to the days of dictator Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades. "The government does not realise that Indonesia has a collective trauma over (Suharto's) authoritarian New Order government," said Hussein Ahmad, deputy director of rights group Imparsial. Before Suharto was toppled by student-led protests in 1998, Prabowo was serving as a commander for an elite force to suppress unrest. He remains accused of human rights abuses, including allegations that he had ordered the abduction of activists at the end of Suharto's rule -- which Prabowo has denied and never been charged for. He has since rehabilitated his image, and was elected last year on the hopes that he would continue the policies of popular predecessor Joko Widodo. Yet in the six months since coming into power, Prabowo's former life as a general has been thrust into the public eye. His administration's move to expand the military's role in government has raised eyebrows even within Indonesia's political elite. After Prabowo appointed government representatives to kickstart discussions of the law in parliament in February, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said it used to be "taboo" for military personnel to enter politics. "It was one of the doctrines that we issued back then... If you want to do politics, resign," he told a meeting. Presidential spokesman Hasan Nasbi denied that the new law would regress Indonesia back to Suharto's era. "This law actually limits the role... to 14 sectors that truly need the skills and expertise relevant to (military) training," he told AFP, adding that the critics were "inaccurate". - 'Silencing' journalists - After his October inauguration, Prabowo paraded his cabinet in military fatigues at a retreat. In November, his defence minister -- also a former general accused of abuses under Suharto -- announced that 100 battalions would be set up to enforce the government's agenda. And Prabowo has also faced backlash in recent months for slashing government budgets, as Indonesia's flailing economy is further hit by a plummeting rupiah and see-sawing markets in reaction to Washington's tariffs. Adding to worries is a new regulation issued last month allowing police to monitor foreign journalists and researchers. It gives the police the authority to provide a permission letter when reporting from "certain locations" -- though a spokesperson later said the letter was "not mandatory". But the regulation could still spook reporters working on sensitive topics, said Human Rights Watch's Andreas Harsono. "Journalism always goes hand-in-hand with democracy," Andreas told AFP. "If journalism is suppressed, the freedom of speech is suppressed, democracy will be paralysed." The country's press flourished after the fall of Suharto, but local reporters have in recent weeks raised fears of an environment of intimidation. Last month, Tempo magazine -- which publishes articles critical of the government -- was sent a pig's head and six decapitated rats. Prabowo's spokesperson denied any government role in the incident, and said an investigation was ongoing. Tempo's website also started seeing cyber attacks this month after it published an investigation into some gambling companies in Cambodia and its links to Indonesian tycoons and politicians. Journalist Francisca Christy Rosana, who was doxxed in recent weeks, said they got the message loud and clear. "This terror was not just aimed at intimidating but silencing and stopping our work." - 'Fed up' - Thousands across Indonesia last month protested the new law, carrying posters that called for the military to "return to the barracks". Dismissing the public's outrage over the military's potential dual role in government as "nonsense", Prabowo said he respected the people's right to protest. But if the demonstrations "create chaos and unrest, in my opinion this is against the national interest", he said in an interview earlier this month. Andrie Yunus of KontraS, the commission for missing persons and victims of violence, said the demonstrations are "the tip of the iceberg". "Civilians are fed up with the entry of militarism into civilian affairs," he said, warning that the path to a military regime "is open". "We consider the passing of the (military law) to be an attempt to open Pandora's box." bur/dhc/tc
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Pandora's box': alarm bells in Indonesia over rising military role
Greater military influence in government, reporters under threat and a stuttering economy -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's first six months in power have triggered alarm bells for activists worried about a return to the country's authoritarian roots. Last month, Indonesia's parliament amended a law allowing active-duty military personnel to work in 14 state institutions -- up from 10 -- including the attorney general's office, which rights groups say could weaken legal checks on military abuse. The decision has critics anxious that the world's third-largest democracy could hark back to the days of dictator Suharto, who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for more than three decades. "The government does not realise that Indonesia has a collective trauma over (Suharto's) authoritarian New Order government," said Hussein Ahmad, deputy director of rights group Imparsial. Before Suharto was toppled by student-led protests in 1998, Prabowo was serving as a commander for an elite force to suppress unrest. He remains accused of human rights abuses, including allegations that he had ordered the abduction of activists at the end of Suharto's rule -- which Prabowo has denied and never been charged for. He has since rehabilitated his image, and was elected last year on the hopes that he would continue the policies of popular predecessor Joko Widodo. Yet in the six months since coming into power, Prabowo's former life as a general has been thrust into the public eye. His administration's move to expand the military's role in government has raised eyebrows even within Indonesia's political elite. After Prabowo appointed government representatives to kickstart discussions of the law in parliament in February, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said it used to be "taboo" for military personnel to enter politics. "It was one of the doctrines that we issued back then... If you want to do politics, resign," he told a meeting. Presidential spokesman Hasan Nasbi denied that the new law would regress Indonesia back to Suharto's era. "This law actually limits the role... to 14 sectors that truly need the skills and expertise relevant to (military) training," he told AFP, adding that the critics were "inaccurate". - 'Silencing' journalists - After his October inauguration, Prabowo paraded his cabinet in military fatigues at a retreat. In November, his defence minister -- also a former general accused of abuses under Suharto -- announced that 100 battalions would be set up to enforce the government's agenda. And Prabowo has also faced backlash in recent months for slashing government budgets, as Indonesia's flailing economy is further hit by a plummeting rupiah and see-sawing markets in reaction to Washington's tariffs. Adding to worries is a new regulation issued last month allowing police to monitor foreign journalists and researchers. It gives the police the authority to provide a permission letter when reporting from "certain locations" -- though a spokesperson later said the letter was "not mandatory". But the regulation could still spook reporters working on sensitive topics, said Human Rights Watch's Andreas Harsono. "Journalism always goes hand-in-hand with democracy," Andreas told AFP. "If journalism is suppressed, the freedom of speech is suppressed, democracy will be paralysed." The country's press flourished after the fall of Suharto, but local reporters have in recent weeks raised fears of an environment of intimidation. Last month, Tempo magazine -- which publishes articles critical of the government -- was sent a pig's head and six decapitated rats. Prabowo's spokesperson denied any government role in the incident, and said an investigation was ongoing. Tempo's website also started seeing cyber attacks this month after it published an investigation into some gambling companies in Cambodia and its links to Indonesian tycoons and politicians. Journalist Francisca Christy Rosana, who was doxxed in recent weeks, said they got the message loud and clear. "This terror was not just aimed at intimidating but silencing and stopping our work." - 'Fed up' - Thousands across Indonesia last month protested the new law, carrying posters that called for the military to "return to the barracks". Dismissing the public's outrage over the military's potential dual role in government as "nonsense", Prabowo said he respected the people's right to protest. But if the demonstrations "create chaos and unrest, in my opinion this is against the national interest", he said in an interview earlier this month. Andrie Yunus of KontraS, the commission for missing persons and victims of violence, said the demonstrations are "the tip of the iceberg". "Civilians are fed up with the entry of militarism into civilian affairs," he said, warning that the path to a military regime "is open". "We consider the passing of the (military law) to be an attempt to open Pandora's box." bur/dhc/tc
The Independent
21-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Indonesia's new military law has sparked outrage: ‘We're going backwards'
Contentious legal revisions giving the military an expanded role in government has sparked outrage in Indonesia and raised fears of a slide back towards the country's authoritarian past. The Indonesian parliament on Thursday voted unanimously to amend the 2004 Armed Forces Law to allow serving military officers to hold crucial civilian positions. The amendments were pushed by the coalition government of Prabowo Subianto, a former army general and son-in-law of former dictator Suharto. The revisions raise the retirement age for four-star generals from 60 to 63 years and allow non-commissioned officers to serve until they are 55. They also give the president the authority to appoint military personnel to various ministries as needed, according to the draft. The legal revisions, pro-democracy activists and analysts say, could mark a return to Indonesia 's authoritarian past when Suharto ruled for 32 years. It was a period when the military played a role in both defence and governance, ensuring its dominance. In protest against the revised law, violent demonstrations erupted in the capital Jakarta as enraged citizens broke through the fence of the House of Representatives building. Police used water cannons to break up the crowds of protesters attempting to storm the building, causing injuries to many. Some of the protesters carried banners saying, 'Return the military to the barracks!" and "Against militarism and oligarchy'. Activists fear that allowing the military into civilian positions will restore the "dual function" of the armed services they saw during Suharto's rule. Al Araf, director of the rights group Imparsial, said the new law was inconsistent with the spirit of the reforms that followed the end of Suharto's dictatorship in 1998 and returned the military to the barracks. "The move has the potential to restore the authoritarian system," Mr Araf said. That the amendments were discussed behind closed doors, in secrecy and with little public input, has also triggered anger. The latest draft was introduced less than a month ago, following a letter to the House from Mr Subianto endorsing the bill. Pro-democracy activists discovered that lawmakers and government officials met in secret to discuss draft revisions at a five-star hotel in South Jakarta on 15 March. Human rights groups warn that expanding the military's role beyond defence will compromise its impartiality. Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the government's rush to adopt these amendments undercuts its expressed commitment to human rights and accountability. 'President Prabowo appears intent on restoring the Indonesian military's role in civilian affairs, which were long characterised by widespread abuses and impunity,' he said in a statement. The Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared, or KontraS, which advocates for justice for victims of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state violence during the Suharto era, said it will open 'the door to power abuse', and weaken democracy. 'Worse, this revision is being discussed behind closed doors without public participation. Activists opposing it are facing intimidation,' the group said in a statement. Dominique Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at Indonesia's Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said on Thursday that the way the law was drafted could prompt backlash. "Autocratic legalism will damage the foundations of constitutional democracy because it exploits loopholes in the construction of legal thought," he said. Defence minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin defended the amendment, saying it was necessary because 'geopolitical changes and global military technology require the military to transform … to face conventional and nonconventional conflicts'. "We will never disappoint the Indonesian people in maintaining the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia," he said. However, Laksmana, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the revisions did not address the problems faced by the Indonesian military such as adding resources for training and standardisation of hardware. In 1965, following a failed coup attempt, General Suharto led a violent purge, killing an estimated 500,000 to a million people, mostly accused communists and leftists. This event paved the way for his authoritarian rule, known as the New Order. During his rule, a military-backed autocracy suppressed opposition, rigged elections, and controlled the media. The military held 'dual function' roles in defence and governance and dissent against it was met with harsh measures. Usman Hamid, head of Amnesty International in Indonesia who protested against Suharto during the New Order era, warned of the past returning. "Activists were kidnapped and some have not returned home. And today it feels like we're going backwards," he said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indonesia begins debate on allowing soldiers to take civilian posts
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's government on Tuesday introduced in a parliamentary committee a watered-down version of contentious legislation that would enable President Prabowo Subianto to appoint military personnel to civilian posts, officials said. After a landslide election victory last year, Prabowo, a former military officer, has quickly expanded the armed forces' role, triggering alarm in a country that was once dominated by an all-powerful military. A new draft of the law, first proposed earlier this year, added a proviso that soldiers filling civilian posts must first resign from service, Indonesia's Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters after the first hearing on the legislation by a parliamentary commission. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. This changes a previous draft by which Prabowo could appoint active officers anywhere in the government, said lawmaker TB Hasanuddin, a member of the country's largest party, after attending the hearing. That draft caused concern among activists and students that expanded military roles in civilian functions would bring back a Suharto-era doctrine called "dwifungsi" (dual function) that allowed the armed forces to crush dissent and dominate public life. "Any military officer to be assigned in ministry or state agency must retire... We could only propose them to (be assigned) in ministry or state agency after the retirement," Sjafrie said. Active soldiers are still allowed to take civilian posts in the defence ministry, state intelligence agency, anti-narcotics and search and rescue agencies, as under the existing law. Sjafrie said the government expected the new legislation to be passed this month. The bill, which amends the country's military laws, would also extend the retirement age for active soldiers by two to five years. Ardi Manto Adiputra, director of Indonesian rights group Imparsial, said the new proposal meant the government took into account public criticism about the expanded role for the military. He warned, however, that the government must ensure all active soldiers in civilian jobs resign, including the president's cabinet secretary Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya.
