January 2, 2026 | 03:05 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The turn of the year is upon us. Another year will pass without any good news for democracy. While the damage left by Joko Widodo's administration still lingers, President Prabowo Subianto has made matters worse by paving the way for the military to handle many non-defense related matters. Militarism has strengthened under his administration.
One starting point was on March 20, 2025, when the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) passed Law No. 3 of 2025 Regarding Amendments to Law No. 34 of 2004 Regarding the Indonesian Military (TNI). This new law became the legal gateway for the return of the "dual function of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (ABRI)" in its latest form.
The newly revised TNI Law authorizes active-duty soldiers to hold civilian positions in fourteen ministries or government agencies, including the Supreme Court and the Attorney General's Office. The revision also authorizes the military to assist regional governments in "overcoming problems resulting from strikes and communal conflicts." This authority is regulated in the article on non-war military operations. These operations can be carried out by the military without the approval of the House of Representatives (DPR) and are regulated only through a presidential regulation.
Shortly after the revised TNI Law was passed, the territorial structure was expanded. The number of regional military commands was increased from 15 to 21. This will eventually increase to 37 regional military commands.
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