The growing involvement of the military and police in the public sphere and civilian government has become a hot topic of discussion among academics and civil society groups.
The recent amendment to the Military Law, passed in March, has sparked concerns over the resurgence of military influence in politics and civil life.
This issue surfaced during a public discussion titled “The Return of Uniformed History: Questioning Militarization and Police Domination in the Republic of Indonesia” held on Wednesday (Apr. 30) at the Mandiri Auditorium, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM).
The discussion, a collaboration between the Departments of Sociology at UGM and UI and the Social Research Center (SOREC), featured several speakers, including UGM sociologist Dr. Arie Sujito as the keynote speaker; UGM lecturer in Politics and Government Dr. Tapiheru Joash Elisha Stephen; Lab 45 researcher Jaleswari Pramodhawardani; UI sociologist Professor Iwan Gardono S.; and UGM sociologist Dr. Najib Azca.
Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at Fisipol UGM, Professor Poppy Sulistyaning Winanti, reminded the audience that although the revised Military Law has been passed, criticism must not cease regarding the return of the uniformed forces into social and political arenas.
Dr. Arie Sujito revisited Indonesia’s reform journey, particularly the establishment of civilian supremacy over the military after 1998. This was marked by the abolition of the dual-function doctrine of the armed forces (ABRI), the military’s withdrawal from parliament, and the prohibition of the military’s political and business involvement.
“These restrictions on the military and the police were implemented because abuse of power had often occurred, leading to a decline in the legitimacy of these institutions. We must not forget that,” Dr. Sujito stressed.
According to the UGM sociologist, the decline of democracy after the reform era stems from the stagnation and partial implementation of reforms in the defense and security sectors.
“Moreover, the continued presence of informal influence and weak civilian oversight has contributed to this issue,” he added.
To preserve democracy, Dr. Sujito emphasized the need for participation from all sectors of society to prevent history from repeating itself. He urged academics and activists to continue thinking critically, speaking out, and acting to defend democracy in Indonesia.
“This is a collective responsibility for all civil society. We must think clearly, act decisively, promote social emancipation, build strong political consolidation, and repair our democracy to prevent further deterioration. On the contrary, we must restore a democracy that is robust and meaningful,” Dr. Sujito concluded.
Dr. Tapiheru Joash Elisha Stephen argued that reform has only succeeded institutionally and failed to cultivate legitimacy and civic awareness among citizens regarding public values. He emphasized the importance of realizing one’s role as a citizen.
“As a result, we are seeing problems like remilitarization, weak civilian oversight, and normalized political nepotism. Strengthening civic values and repositioning the military to focus solely on external functions will be key to maintaining a healthy democracy,” Dr. Stephen said.
“If citizens do not understand their public roles, they also fail to understand that sovereignty rests with them.”
Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, also known as Dani, expressed concern over the signs of democratic regression marked by the return of military and police roles in civilian affairs through regulatory revisions such as the Military, Police, and Civil Service Laws.
She presented data showing that although democratic quality has declined, public satisfaction with security remains high, a fact that elites have exploited to push controversial regulations.
She reminded the audience that democracy should not be viewed merely as a gift but as the result of a long struggle.
Meanwhile, Professor Iwan Gardono stated that while reform successfully separated the TNI and police and curtailed military-political roles, weak public oversight, loose discretion, and low accountability continue to allow abuse of power.
According to him, active participation by civil society and academics is vital to sustaining democracy, not only at the national level but also at the local level.
Dr. Najib Azca highlighted the failure to reform political parties, an essential element of democracy, as the root of many current issues, including the smooth passage of controversial agendas such as the revised Military and Police Laws.
On the other hand, society still accepts military figures in civilian posts, indicating a persistent culture of militarism. Dr. Azca argued that strengthening civil citizenship and long-term political reform is essential to resisting militarization and preserving democratic quality.
“I think this is something we need to respond to, and although it may sound cliché, strengthening democratic citizenship must be a long-term agenda that we continuously pursue,” he concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Illustration: Disway.id