Indonesia is presently led by President Prabowo Subianto, an ex-special forces general and the former son-in-law of Suharto, who was inaugurated in October last year. Since he took charge of the office, he has been expanding the military’s involvement in areas that were seen as civilian, including his flagship programme of providing free meals for children.

Speaker Puan Maharani led the unanimous vote in a plenary council and officially passed the law, saying that it was in accordance with the principle of democracy and human rights.

Indonesia’s law minister, Supratman Andi Agtas, has denied the law was a return to the military dominance that characterised the Suharto dictatorship, saying instead it was necessary due to domestic and geopolitical challenges.

Indonesia’s law minister, Supratman Andi Agtas, has rejected claims that the new law signals a return to military dominance that characterised the Suharto dictatorship. He argued that the law is essential in addressing the country’s domestic and geopolitical challenges.

“The geopolitical changes and global military technology require the military to transform… to face conventional and non conventional conflicts,” Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told parliament, while defending the revised law.

“We will never disappoint the Indonesians in keeping our sovereignty,” he added, but did not specify what geopolitical challenges he was referring to.

Before the law was passed, active military personnel were allowed to hold positions in organisations like the defence ministry and the state intelligence agency. The revised law broadens the scope of civilian roles available to military officers, including posts in the attorney general’s office, state secretariat, counterterrorism agency, and narcotics agency. Additionally, it raises the retirement age for sitting officers.

Rights groups have criticised the increased military involvement because they fear it may lead to abuses of power, human rights violations, and impunity from consequences for actions.

The government has said the bill requires officers to resign from the military before assuming civilian posts at departments such as the Attorney’s General Office and a a lawmaker has said officers could not join state-owned companies, to counter concerns the military would be involved in business.

Protesters from several democracy groups and students have said they will stage rallies in front of the parliamentary building in Jakarta.

Some students had camped at the back gate of the parliamentary building since Wednesday evening, protesting the law and demanding the government pull out all military personnel from civilian jobs.

Police officers forced them to leave the building but they refused, a protester said. There were just a few dozen protesters at the time the bill was passed by parliament.-Agencies