Indonesia’s Constitutional Court was set to deliver a ruling on Wednesday on multiple petitions challenging revisions to the country’s military law that broaden the armed forces’ role in civilian affairs, a move critics say undermines democracy and revives authoritarian-era practices.
The contested amendments, passed by parliament in March, were pushed through without adequate public consultation, according to petitioners who include human rights advocates, student groups, and Inayah Wahid, daughter of former President Abdurrahman Wahid. They argue the changes lacked transparency and should be annulled.
“We expect the court to repeal the military law because the process is not in accordance with another law regulating legislative process,” petitioner Ardi Manto Adiputra told Reuters, alleging lawmakers had met in secret and rushed the revisions.
President Prabowo Subianto, a former special forces commander, has increasingly turned to the military to implement his policies just 11 months into office.
His administration has deployed troops to manage street protests, enforce food security measures, run school meal programs, manufacture medicines, and even seize palm oil plantations for a state-owned firm. He has also filled senior government posts with ex-generals.
These steps have raised concerns of creeping militarisation and drawn comparisons to the 1966–1998 New Order era, when Indonesia was dominated by the armed forces under President Suharto.
The court’s decision will focus on whether due process was followed in the law’s passage, rather than the substance of the legislation itself. Petitioners have said they plan to file a separate challenge on the law’s content later.
The verdict comes amid widespread anti-government protests that have swept Indonesian cities over the past two weeks, fuelled by anger at lawmakers’ benefits, budget allocations, police behaviour, and fears of democratic backsliding.
The Law Ministry has defended the revisions, insisting the legislative process was proper and public participation had been sought.
Court officials said the ruling would be delivered virtually, with no public attendance permitted.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
