Demo Tolak UU TNI Terus Bergulir, Begini Respons Ketua DPR Puan Maharani

Summary

The transcript discusses recent protests by students from Universitas Cendrawasih and other universities in Indonesia, who are opposing the newly revised TNI law passed by the DPR. The students argue that the law could bring back authoritarianism reminiscent of the New Order era. They demand the law be repealed, fearing it undermines democratic principles. Legal challenges have also been made, with seven students filing a formal petition with the Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, DPR Chairperson Puan Maharani urges the public to thoroughly read and understand the law before making protests.

Takeaways

• 😀 Students from Universitas Cendrawasih, part of the Student Executive Body, protested against the new military law at the Papua Regional Representative Council (DPRD).
• 😀 The protestors demanded the revocation of the newly passed military law, citing concerns over potential authoritarianism similar to the New Order era.
• 😀 The students argued that the military law would undermine the freedom of civilians to fully engage in society, instead of just controlling it.
• 😀 The protestors emphasized that the fall of President Suharto's regime was due to opposition to authoritarian governance, and they feared a return to that system.
• 😀 Protests against the military law also took place in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, with students in several universities voicing their opposition at the local DPRD office.
• 😀 The demonstrators viewed the new military law as contrary to democratic principles and called for greater public participation in decision-making.
• 😀 In addition to street protests, seven students from the University of Indonesia filed a formal judicial review at the Constitutional Court regarding the law.
• 😀 The judicial review petition was submitted on March 21, 2025, just one day after the Indonesian Parliament passed the revision to the military law.
• 😀 The Constitutional Court accepted the petition with case number 48/PUU/PAN.MK/III/2025, focusing on the formal aspects of the law's passage.
• 😀 Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament, Puan Maharani, urged the public to carefully read the final version of the military law, available on the official DPR RI website, before making further protests.

Q & A

What triggered the student protests described in the transcript?

The student protests were triggered by the passing of the new Indonesian National Military (TNI) law, which students feared would restore authoritarian practices similar to the New Order regime.

Which university was specifically mentioned as a hub for student protests?

Universitas Cendrawasih, located in Papua, was specifically mentioned as a hub for student protests against the new TNI law.

What concerns did the students raise about the TNI law?

The students expressed concerns that the TNI law could lead to the return of authoritarianism, undermining democratic principles and granting excessive power to the military over civilian matters.

Where else did protests occur apart from Papua?

Protests also occurred in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, where students from various universities gathered to oppose the TNI law.

What legal action did students take against the TNI law?

Students from the University of Indonesia filed a formal challenge in Indonesia's Constitutional Court, questioning the validity of the TNI law.

What was the timeline of the legal challenge against the TNI law?

The legal challenge was filed on Friday, March 21, 2025, just one day after the Indonesian Parliament passed the revised TNI law.

What did Puan Maharani, the Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, say about the protests?

Puan Maharani urged the public to read and fully understand the TNI law by accessing the official DPR RI website before protesting. She suggested that protests should only occur if there were valid concerns after reading the law.

How did Puan Maharani recommend people engage with the law?

Puan Maharani recommended that individuals read the final version of the TNI law carefully and ensure they understood it fully before taking action or protesting.

What was the main fear of the protesters regarding the TNI law?

The main fear of the protesters was that the TNI law would lead to the restoration of an authoritarian regime, similar to the one during the New Order era under President Suharto.

How did the Indonesian government respond to the protests?

The Indonesian government, through Puan Maharani, called for restraint and urged the public to thoroughly read and understand the contents of the TNI law before deciding to protest or take further actions.