Indonesian military personnel on a recent exercise: Moves to expand the armed forces' role in civilian government has sparked concern among academics and activists. (Photo by Ismi Damayanti)
ISMI DAMAYANTI
JAKARTA -- Indonesia's House of Representatives has passed revisions to a law on the Indonesian military (TNI), allowing active-duty personnel to assume positions in a wider range of civilian institutions.
Critics warn the changes signal a return of the military's "dual function," in which it plays a prominent role in both government as well as defense, a practice that was ended as part of the country's transition to democracy after the toppling of the late dictator Suharto in 1998.