The Drafting of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Law Fulfills Legislative Mechanisms and Public Participation
Jakarta – The process of drafting Law Number 34 of 2004 concerning the Indonesian National Armed Forces (UU TNI) is certain to have followed all applicable legal mechanisms and fulfilled the principles of openness and public participation. This was emphasized in the follow-up hearing of the formal test of the TNI Law held by the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday, June 23, 2025 in Jakarta.
In the hearing, the Minister of Law, Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized that the drafting of the TNI Law was in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 13 of 2022 concerning the Drafting of Legislative Regulations (UU P3). The government has involved various parties in the process of discussing the bill since 2023.
“In 2023, the TNI Headquarters held several FGDs in order to discuss several materials that will become the contents of the Revised TNI Bill. The results of the FGDs conducted in 2023 became the material for compiling the DIM (Problem Inventory List) in 2024,” said Supratman.
He explained that the government had also held a public test involving ministries/institutions, academics, and civil society groups. The activity was continued with level I and II discussion meetings, until finally it was ratified in a plenary meeting of the Indonesian House of Representatives.
“So that it meets the principles of openness and meaningful participation,” said Supratman.
Meanwhile, from the legislative side, the Chairperson of Commission I for Defense of the DPR, Utut Adianto explained that the drafting of the TNI Law had complied with all applicable laws and regulations. This was emphasized that Commission I of the DPR upholds the principles of utility and effectiveness.
“The process has gone through a number of legal procedural mechanisms,” said Utut Adianto.
He also stated that the DPR rejected the formal review request submitted by the applicants from a number of law faculties and civil society coalitions.
“Rejecting the a quo application in its entirety or at least stating that the a quo application cannot be accepted,” said Utut.
This statement from the DPR and the government is a response to a number of formal review lawsuits against the TNI Law filed by students from the University of Indonesia, Padjajaran University, Gadjah Mada University, and civil society coalitions. They considered that the process of drafting the TNI Law did not involve the public enough and was not transparent.
The government and DPR showed that the stages of drafting the TNI Law were carried out comprehensively, in stages, and involved many stakeholders. This shows a commitment to presenting regulations that are legitimate and constitutional.
Thus, the presence of the TNI Law which has gone through a transparent, participatory drafting process, and in accordance with applicable legal provisions is real evidence of the government and DPR’s commitment to ensuring democratic, accountable regulatory governance, and in favor of national interests and the wider community.
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