Poor PLS of Security Sector Reform and Its Impacts on Human Rights and Civil-Military Relations in Indonesia

  • Poltak Partogi Nainggolan Centre for Research of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Indonesia
  • Riris Katharina Centre for Research of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Indonesia

Abstract

As emerging democracy, Indonesia is facing a formidable challenge from its Parliament whose capacity in conducting Post-Legislative Scrutiny is weak; this could prevent the country from fulfilling democratic consolidation. The country’s failure in fulfilling its democratic consolidation two decades after Soeharto’s resignation can bring it back to the authoritarian era as it has experienced only two years after the first 1955 democratic election until 1998. Applying an empirical research by directly observing PLS in the Indonesian parliament and using a qualitative method of analysis, this essay discussed the causes and repercussions of the parliament’s poor capability, which have brought the country into current setback, facing resistances from the old establishment that has made the military unable to continue reform and to change its political culture. Therefore, the Indonesian military still wants to involve in civilian affairs and businesses by making a more flexible interpretation of Military Operations Other Than War, on the one side. While, on the other, TNI’s existing culture of violence has led it to many alleged cases of gross human rights violations which could not be prosecuted until recently. In fact, Indonesian Members of Parliament’s poor capability and DPR’s weak supporting system give more complexity to the country in its struggle and success to be the third biggest democracy in the world.

References

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See, for example, Arif Budianto dan Eko Budiono,”Eks TNI Masih Berpengaruh,” (Ex-TNI Still Have Influence), Seputar Indonesia, March 22, 2008, p 3.

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The writers attended the hearing and testimony organized by the Pansus in DPR building in 2000.
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Ibid.
Ibid.
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A big banner could be seen, for instance, in front of military (Kostrad) housing compound in Arteri Pondok Indah Road, Jakarta.

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See, “Limbah Berbahaya di Markas Tentara” (Dangerous Waste in Military Base), Majalah Tempo, 18-24 February 2019: 23, 39-53.
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A mayhem which caused eight people died, mostly young people, 300 wounded, and 700 arrested, see, for instance, Republika, May 27, 2019: 1; Suseno,”Ada Indikasi Pelanggaran HAM dalam Kerusuhan 22-23 Mei” (Indications of Human Rights Violations Founded), Koran Tempo, May 27, 2019: 27.
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Published
2020-06-17
How to Cite
NAINGGOLAN, Poltak Partogi; KATHARINA, Riris. Poor PLS of Security Sector Reform and Its Impacts on Human Rights and Civil-Military Relations in Indonesia. Journal of Southeast Asian Human Rights, [S.l.], v. 4, n. 1, p. 23-51, june 2020. ISSN 2599-2147. Available at: <https://jurnal.unej.ac.id/index.php/JSEAHR/article/view/13597>. Date accessed: 19 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.19184/jseahr.v4i1.13597.
Section
Special Edition on Post-Legislative Scrutiny

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