Indonesia military law protests signal deep fears of democratic erosion under Prabowo

The amended bill brought back bad memories of Suharto-era militarism, when lines between civilian and military spheres were blurred, critics said

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Anti-riot police put up their shields as students throw stones during a protest against a revision to the armed forces law in Surabaya on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:00pm, 27 Mar 2025

Nationwide protests have erupted across Indonesia in response to parliament’s approval of a revised military law that broadens the armed forces’ role in civilian institutions, with students and rights groups warning of democratic backsliding.

The revision’s swift passage has been widely viewed as a sign of President Prabowo Subianto’s political dominance, with critics saying it reflects his intent to reassert the military’s role in civilian life and roll back reforms that once separated defence from governance.

Protesters took to the streets in cities across Indonesia – from Jakarta to Aceh and South Kalimantan – after parliament, dominated by Prabowo’s ruling coalition, passed the contentious amendment on Thursday.

In Jakarta, police fired tear gas and water cannons as thousands of protesters attempted to storm the parliament building on Friday.

The situation continued to escalate on Monday, with clashes breaking out between demonstrators and police in front of a government building in Surabaya, East Java. Around 1,000 students and activists had been protesting the amended bill, holding signs that read: “Reject the Military Law” and “The Military Should Return to the Barracks,” according to an Agence France-Presse report.

Indonesian students display posters with a tweet of President Prabowo Subianto reading “rallies are part of democracy guaranteed by law” during a protest against a revision to the armed forces law in Surabaya on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Parliament fast-tracked the amendment of the 2004 law governing the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). The move was driven by aides close to Prabowo, who is a retired army general and the country’s former defence minister.