Jakarta – The ratification of the Draft Law on the Indonesian Military (RUU TNI) on March 20 was followed by a wave of demonstrations around the country. Actions by civil society groups continued on March 23-24 with several rallies continuing into evening which were marred by repressive actions by the police.

The House of Representatives (DPR) soon plans to deliberate revisions to Law Number 34/2004 on the Indonesian Military (UU TNI). This move was taken after President Prabowo Subianto sent a presidential letter (Surpres) to the DPR giving the go ahead for t

[From an oped piece in Kompas.id by Al Araf titled "Rejecting the Return of ABRI's Dwi-Fungsi".]

Jakarta – Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) is urging that the discourse on a plan to add additional military commands so that all 38 provinces in Indonesia have regional military commands (Kodam) be brought to an end.

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform says that the plan to establish regional military commands (Kodam) in every province is a step backwards for TNI (Indonesian military) reform.

Iqbal Fadil, Jakarta – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) has put forward four preconditions that have to be met before the right to vote is given to members of the TNI (Indonesian military).

Kompas – The head of the army’s information office, Brigadier General Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan, has confirmed that they have already established an extra-structural organisation at every level of the TNI’s (Indonesian military) territorial command, which will be tasked with and function in the same manner as the anti-terror desk at the coordinat

Muhammad Nur Hayid, Jakarta – The plan to reactivate the territorial commands (Koter) down to the village level continues to spark polemic. Even the speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), Hidayat Nurwahid, has asked the government to consider the objections that have surfaced among the public.

Nala Edwin, Jakarta – The public is being encouraged to study and be on guard against the TNI’s (Indonesian military) efforts to revive the territorial commands (Koter) as a means to preserve the power of the current administration. The TNI has even been asked not to become involved in politics again.

Banda Aceh – The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) opposes the current discourse on the reactivation of the territorial commands (Koter) by the TNI (Indonesian military) as a response to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s instruction to the TNI to assist in combating terrorism.