Jakarta actions oppose draft law on the TNI

FNPBI News – August 19, 2004
Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle rally (Berdikari)
Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle rally (Berdikari)

Jakarta – Around 100 demonstrators from the United People Against Militarism (Persatuan Rakyat Anti Militerisme, PRAM) have again demonstrated in front of the national parliament. PRAM is made up of a number of leftist groups such as the National Students Front (FMN), the People’s Democratic Party (PRD), ILALANG, PRP, the Youth Front for the Poor (LPRM), the Democratic Student Network (JMD), KAB, GMJ, the National Student League for Democracy (LMND) and the National Labour Front for Struggle (FNPBI).

The action which started in front of the Bank Danamon on Jalan Jendral Sudirman was joined by around 100 people. As they marched towards the parliament the demonstrators shouted slogans like “The United People reject RUU TNI [draft law on the armed forces]” and “The United People oppose the militaristic parasites of the people’s economy” while they handed out leaflets containing an explanation about why militarism must be opposed.

Upon arriving at the parliament the representatives of the respective organisations presented their demands. One of the representatives from the PRD in their speech said: “RUU TNI is a legislative product where the TNI is given the opportunity to again control politics and [maintain] the territorial [command structure] concept1 which was put into place when the country was in a state of war. Now, after there is no longer a [state of] war is it still appropriate for the concept of the territorial commands to be in force? In fact though the concept of the territorial commands the military is legitimised to control economic resources or to become businesspeople and the military also has the legitimacy to monitor political movements in society”.

Notes:

1. The TNI’s territorial command structure mandates the deployment of military command posts and detachments at all levels of the civil administration: provincial, district, sub- district and village. This structure provides the organisational framework for the TNI to act as a political security force at all levels of society.

[Translated by James Balowski.]