MILITARY POLITIC OF INDONESIA IN

NEW ORDER ERA

“Indonesian Political System”

Lecturer: Sugito, S. IP., M.Si.

Dera Ayu Nur Isnantya (20170510396)

Cincin Shabrina (20170510400)

Afnan Deureh (20170510487)

International Program of International Relations

Department Of International Relations

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta

2018
A. BACKGROUND

In the new order era, the time when President Soeharto ruled that started in 1966,
Indonesia's political structure is dominated by the military. With Suharto's military
background is thick, the involvement of the military in the political sector tends to be the
more rapidly. Suharto gave the figures a high allotment in Parliament (DPR/MPR) to the
military, so the military can control the agency representatives, and can remain in power
without experiencing interference. Military intervention in the political structure has already
happened since the Sukarno regime, just that the intervention level is not as high as the time
of Suharto's regime. During the guided democracy, the military began to play the role of the
political and social economy. At that time, the military formed a civil political partners so as
not to look if the military wants to overwhelm Government and political sectors. by forming
the Joint Secretariat of The Paper that later became The works (Golkar). The military
compiled the power through political parties. Over time, the military is already involved in
politics and get down to the realm of civil feel comfortable going to her position. But the
military position of harm to civilians. Percentage for civilians in Government is very small.
More than that, the civilian who had criticism or contrary to Soeharto be tried unilaterally by
TNI over Suharto's mandate. As in the case of the PKI of the year 1965, the PKI followers
directly slaughtered without going through the judicial process. Another example is in the
case of Malari 1974 year, when Suharto was investing with Japan, this cannot be accepted by
the students, so the demo. Then the TNI handed down by Suharto to take care of these
students, the results takes a lot of civilian casualties. Such action is not only inhumane, but
also violating human rights (human rights). Some of the above shows that the military
authoritarian and unprofessional in conducting its work. Therefore, the emerging demands of
the community in order that Soeharto step down from the Chair of the Presidency and to
reform the security sector (RSK) i.e. with the removal of the military's role in politics (dual
function of Indonesian National Armed Force was abolished) and an overhaul of the political
structure. Fall of Suharto from the Presidency Chair, implies a deterioration in political
influence of the military and civil-military relations. The military reform is done as an
 attempt to establish a professional military, civil-military relations, and improve the image of
the military in society. 1

B. QUESTION
1. How The role of the function Military Politics in Indonesia?

C. THEORITICAL REVIEW

The involvement of members of the military in the political process of transition

of power at the time of this reform is not new. Earlier, in the process of changing of the
President in the elections of December 2014, the village Trustees enlisted person of the
TNI in Jakarta allegedly involved support one presidential candidate. The involvement of
military persons in the process of succession in the reforms do not seen as problems, but
should be seen as a serious issue that will interfere with the democratic political life.

Historically, military involvement directly in the practical political life never

happened during the new order Government regime. At that time, an authoritarian regime
of Suharto do politicking for the sake of maintaining and sustaining military power.
Consequently, the role and function of the military in those days much more noticeable in
the practical political life.

Despite the military's involvement in the embryo politics already began during the
old order, the involvement of the military in a systematic and massive in the practical
political life peaked during the reign of the new order. The military used to be known as
the ABRI enters almost all political spaces. Indonesian National Armed Force strategic
offices occupied, such as Ministers, Governors, Regents, as well as being in the
Parliament. Indonesian National Armed Force also conduct strict supervision and control
to the political community, such as political parties and civil society.

Indonesian National Armed Force also intervene in internal Lebanese political

party and could drop the Chairman of the Centre with a wide variety of ways if deemed
against the power. The Armed Forces also control the process of political succession

1
http://m.dw.com/id/suharto-dalam-tradisi-politik-dan-militer
 through elections. In any process of the election, Indonesian National Armed Force
plunge directly supervise and intervene in the electoral process. No wonder if the election
results on the new order always win a political party that would support Suharto's power.

The involvement of the military in politics in the new order upheld the doctrine of
the dual function of Indonesian National Armed Force and the territorial command
structure. At the time of the new order, the existence of the territorial command is indeed
very associated with the dual function of Indonesian National Armed Force. Although the
embryo of the territorial command there during the old order, the function as a structure
supporting the territorial command role politics Indonesian National Armed Force held
and strengthened during the new order. 2

D. RESULT OF DISCUSSION
As we know that the task of the Military is to maintain the security and unity of
the state. Matters that concerning problems occurring in a country such as disintegration
and others due to influence of politics, caused the military participate in politics. This is
in accordance with the implementation of the concept of dwifungsi by Nasution. This
concept grew more broadly during the New Order period, aimed at supporting the
military in politics as a dynamicator and stabilizer and supervising civilians in running
the government.
During the New Order period the opportunity for the military to play a role in the
political world was more open. In this period, the military was totally involved in civilian
life such as parliament, central and regional administration and even political parties.
This is aimed to perpetuating Suharto's authority.
The multiplicity of military roles in the politics has caused some devastating
effects. One of the biggest impacts is the lack of democracy. At that time, the military
could occupy political posts such as ministers, governors, district heads, party members
and representatives. This is done under the pretext of maintaining state stability.

2
http://www.imparsial.org/publikasi/opini/militer-dan-politik/
 Number of Military Chairs in House of Representatives 1967-2004

Source: Jun Honna, 20033

At the same time the military often also took a peek at intervening Civil forces.
And also committed repressive acts against civilians.
Consequently, at that time military hegemony and the lack civil supremacy
happened. At that time also, we can’t run the function of democracy totally, because we
can’t express our opinions freely. At every level of civil administration there is always an
ABRI command that can monitor the activities of the people with territorial command
system, so they can get information on the community's opposition. If we are caught up
against the policy that made by the regime, then get ready to disappear from the face of
the earth. And also bans against the Credible media that are not in line with the regime
authority. Those are the military influences that occurred during the New Order era, in
order to realize the sustainability of the New Order regime.

3
Jun Honna, Military Politics and Democratization in Indonesia, (London: Routledge), 2003 page. 214
E. CONCLUSION
So, can be concluded that with the magnitude of the military's role to politics
during the New Order period affected the course of government at that time. Military
hegemony at that time greatly affected the occurrence of the lack of civil supremacy, and
the strength of the hegemony lasted for 32 years.
Under the name of stabilization, the New Order government made many
criticisms and restrictions on democratic rights using the military power. Such as freedom
of expression, bans against the media and other matters. Those are things that happened
during the reign of the new order.