5. Reasons for the rejection of the TNI Bill

 Based on Tempo's monitoring, students who took part in the demonstration had to retreat towards Senayan Park. The police officers who walked carried tactical shields and batons. There were also police officers using two-wheeled vehicles carrying tear gas launchers.

The police flanked two roads, first from the direction of Senayan Park, then from the direction of the Petamburan flyover. The students finally split into various directions such as Senayan Park, the flyover towards Semanggi and the S. Parman toll road.

Tempo also monitored that several students were arrested by the police. The officers who used two-wheeled vehicles chased the protesters. Two motorbikes belonging to the demonstrators were forced to be abandoned by them so as not to be caught by the police.

5. Reasons for the rejection of the TNI Bill

The ratification of the TNI Bill was rejected, one of which was from the Indonesian Caucus for Academic Freedom (KIKA). In an online press conference titled “Legislative Crimes in Approval of the 2025 TNI Law” on Thursday, KIKA Coordinator Satria Unggul encouraged civil society to unite to urge the government to revoke the TNI Law.

Satria explained several reasons why the public in general should reject it. First, he assessed that the results of the revision would threaten the independence of the judiciary and strengthen the impunity or legal immunity of TNI members. This is because the TNI Law draws the TNI back into a socio-political and even economic-business role like the New Order era.

‘This has proven to be inconsistent with the basic principles of the rule of law and civil supremacy and damages the foundations of democratic life. If this is allowed to continue, it will have a serious impact on the bleak future of democracy, the upholding of the rule of law and an increase in the escalation of gross human rights violations in the future," he said.

The second reason, according to him, the TNI Law is contrary to the recommendations of the Committee on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR), the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and global human rights instruments such as the ICC Rome Statute and the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Meanwhile, Indonesia has ratified a number of core human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture (CAT), which require states to ensure military accountability and protection of civil rights.

'This not only threatens the professionalism of the military, but also betrays Indonesia's commitment to implementing various UN recommendations and international human rights law obligations, "he said.

The third reason, Satria emphasized the impact of impunity held by TNI members which will affect arbitrary actions without consequences. This can threaten civil liberties and democracy in voicing opinions and criticisms and affect existing political power.

"Where political actors involved in human rights violations still have positions of power. This causes law enforcement to be ineffective and results in biased decisions that are contrary to the principle of equality before the law," he said.

Hammam Izzuddin, M. Raihan Muzzaki, and Hanin Marwah contributed to the writing of this article.