A Shocking New Bill

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu (right) shakes hands with House of Representatives (DPR) Deputy Speaker Agus Hermanto as he submits the government\'s response to the deliberation over the National Resource Management for National Defense Bill during a plenary meeting on Thursday (26/9/2019) at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. In addition to the military reserve force bill, the meeting also ratified the Creative Economy Bill and the Cooperatives Bill.

While the street demonstrations have still not subsided completely, the 2014-2019 House of Representatives (DPR), whose session ends in a matter of days, has delivered another surprise.

On Thursday (26/9/2019), the House passed into law a bill (RUU) that had been rejected by the three previous legislatures in the Reform Era: the bill on National Resource Management for State Defense. Its earlier iteration was called the bill on the Reserve Components for State Defense.

Passing this bill into law officializes ordinary citizens as a component of the military reserve. Indonesian citizens aged a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 35 years who are physically and mentally fit have the right to enlist in the reserves. Their enlistment will be confirmed following a selection process, and those who pass will enter three months of basic military training.

In situations in which all or part of the territory of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia is in a state of emergency or a state of war, the President may declare the mobilization of the reserve force to reinforce the strength and capacity of the Indonesian Military (TNI), under the command of the TNI Commander.

Reservists will be bound to military law throughout their training and enlistment until the maximum age of 47, as well as during mobilization. Reservists who fail to mobilize or deliberately avoid mobilization will be subject to a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO

Two legislators occupy the otherwise empty rows of seats in one section of the House of Representatives (DPR) during a plenary meeting on Thursday (26/9/2019) at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. The meeting opened at 11:45 a.m. – instead of at 10:00 a.m. as scheduled – to approve the results of the fit and proper test for the candidates of the 2019-2024 Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) leadership and to ratify the bill on National Resource Management for National Defense, as well as the Creative Economy Bill and the Cooperatives Bill.

Surprised? Of course. This bill was out of the public eye. The National Human Rights Commission has requested the House to postpone it because it is not urgent and its deliberation involved minimum public consulation. Their approach was deemed too militaristic. Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has stressed that the bill is not military in nature, but acknowledged that it involved little discussion.

In fact, many countries have revoked their regulations on compulsory basic military service, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Bosnia and Germany. Many countries have deemed that compulsory military service could disrupt the economy and labor productivity. Today, their military strategy focuses more on developing military technology and professional soldiers.

The 2007 Kompas poll showed that the public was concerned that establishing a military reserve might make society highly militaristic. The use of violence would come to dominate society.

We all agree that defending the country is a civic duty. The 1945 Constitution also says so. However, defending the country should not be interpreted narrowly. The country can also be defended by fighting corruption and poverty, as well as through many other professions. But the decision has been made; the gavel has been struck. Those who object should head to the Constitutional Court to request a judicial review.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

A group of female students take part in a demonstration on Tuesday (24/9/2019) at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. Their poster reads, “The state, don’t be possessive”.