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Critics slam new proposal to allow soldiers to conduct business
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Marine Corps soldiers perform chants during the departure ceremony of Rim Of The Pacific Task Force in Surabaya, East Java, on May 31, 2024. (Antara/Didik Suhartono)
P
ressure is mounting on policymakers to disregard a fresh proposal to allow soldiers to engage in business through a revision to the military law, with critics fearing such an admission would undermine the professionalism of the military and cause conflicts of interest.
The Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister last week held a series of public discussions to hear feedback on the controversial plans by the House of Representatives to revise the prevailing 2004 Indonesian Military (TNI) Law and the 2002 Police Law just months before the end of the House tenure.
But the latest controversy came from the TNI itself in the same discussion, during which its legal development agency chief Rear Adm. Kresno Buntoro proposed that the House remove an existing provision prohibiting military personnel from engaging in business. He based his argument on his findings that many soldiers had taken on part-time commercial activities, such as becoming drivers on the weekends, and should not be criminally prosecuted for it.
Article 39 of the prevailing TNI law stipulates that military personnel are prohibited from participating in political activities, commercial activities or attempting to be elected as members of the legislative branch or any other political positions.
“My wife, for example, runs a warung [kiosk] from our home. Inevitably, I have been involved, like driving her around to shop for supplies. I could be persecuted for this,” said Kresno.
“This prohibition against commercial activities should only apply to the TNI as an institution. What’s the reason to prohibit soldiers who want to open up a warung?” he added.
Read also: House draws flak over uptick in controversial bills nearing end of tenure
