Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), recently took the initiative to distribute the draft of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Bill to journalists. This move was made in response to circulating concerns on social media, which suggested that the bill deviated from the actual discussions within the DPR. Dasco clarified that the drafts circulating online are different from the one currently being deliberated in Commission I of the DPR RI. The focus of the bill revisions is to strengthen legal frameworks in order to prevent potential violations in the future, particularly in three specific articles.
The three articles 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 which allows active-duty TNI personnel to hold positions in specific ministries or government institutions. Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin had previously presented the list of problem inventories (DIM) for the TNI Bill to the DPR, proposing amendments to the existing TNI Law. Sjafrie assured that the revisions are solely focused on the three mentioned articles, with the aim of ensuring civilian supremacy in the role and operations of the TNI.
The distribution of the draft to journalists was intended to clear up any misconceptions and criticisms surrounding the TNI Bill. Dasco encouraged journalists to review the draft themselves in order to comprehend the revisions and address any concerns that may have surfaced on social media. The main objective remains to uphold civilian supremacy within the TNI, with the DPR demonstrating its commitment to transparent discussions and legal enhancements in defense-related policies.
