Minister Luhut Proposes Soldiers Can Serve in Civilian Jobs, Many Refuse

TheIndonesia.co - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment General (retired) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan proposed amendments to the Indonesian National Army (TNI) Law so that active TNI officers can serve in ministries/ agencies or civilian jobs in general. Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Effendi Simbolon, said that the discourse was contrary to the mandate of the 1998's Reformasi, which prohibited the involvement of the TNI in socio-political roles or known as the dual function of ABRI.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle politician said the proposal to place active soldiers in government agency positions "will never be approved" in the revision of the TNI Law. He reasoned that this was tantamount to violating the mandate of reform and People's Consultative Assembly Decree Number VI and VII of 2000 concerning the Separation of the Indonesian National Army and the Indonesian National Police.

"If someone proposes it, he doesn't understand the philosophy of reform," he said, quoted from BBC Indonesia.

Pro-democracy and human rights activist, Usman Hamid, also sees no urgency to place active TNI soldiers in institutions or ministries. Because usually, said Usman Hamid, the involvement of the TNI in the government takes place when the state imposes a state of emergencies such as war with other countries or conflicts.

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Panjaitan, has at least twice expressed the government's plan to include active TNI officers in ministries, agencies, or government agencies. First, in 2019, Luhut dismissed accusations that the inclusion of the TNI in the ministry would revive the dual function of ABRI. He claims the government has had a study on it. But did not reveal it in more detail.

Now Luhut revived the discourse at the PPAD National Gathering in Sentul, Bogor, last week. He said the current law limits the role of soldiers in the ministry.