"In our dialogue with the civil society, we agreed to prioritize civil supremacy. We ensure the TNI Bill will not restore TNI's duality function," DPR RI deputy speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated when met before attending the Plenary Meeting at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday.
Ahmad informed that several changes in articles proposed by Commission I of DPR RI and the government did not include provisions that could revive a duality function similar to what existed in the past.
"We have communicated to the public that there was no duality function in TNI's role in those articles," he clarified.
Ahmad said his side has made significant efforts to accommodate the aspirations of the wider community as much as possible in this TNI Bill through dialogues with student groups, civil society coalitions, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
For that matter, he considered the pros and cons of the TNI Bill that emerged in society as part of political dynamics within a democracy.
"It is called political dynamics in democracy. It is okay if some people have not accepted this TNI Bill. However, we have made maximum efforts, conducting intense communications with several or most of the elements of society who have interests in the Bill," he explained.
He also assured that the draft of the TNI Bill that had been approved at Level II for ratification into law during the DPR Plenary Meeting would be accessible to the wider community.
On Thursday, the DPR RI unanimously approved the Bill on Amendments to Law Number 34 of 2004 on Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) into Law.
The Bill was approved unanimously by legislators during the plenary session presided over by DPR Speaker Puan Maharani at the Parliament Complex.
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, and State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi attended the plenary session.
The speaker detailed the recently passed law covers changes to four aspects: Article 3 regarding TNI's position, Article 7 on non-combat operations, Article 47 about civil roles filled by active TNI personnel, and Article 53 on the military retirement age.
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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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