TNI - Indonesia at Melbourne

From barracks to Monas: TNI’s grandiose return to political centre stage

On 5 October 2024, the Indonesian National Military (TNI) celebrated its 79th anniversary with great fanfare at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Central Jakarta. Thousands of civilian onlookers flocked to see the ceremony, which received widespread media attention. Soldiers and military equipment moved down major thoroughfares towards the iconic monument during the city’s weekly car free day. Up to 100,000 military personnel took part in the event.

Sigi attack prompts another tug of war over counterterrorism policy

Politics, Security

If the military is going to be involved in efforts to combat terrorism, it is time for a deeper discussion on how it can be both effective and accountable.

Talking Indonesia: Covid-19 and the military

Politics, Public health, Security, Talking Indonesia

Has the military’s role in countering the pandemic altered the balance of civil-military relations? Dr Dave McRae explores this issue and more with Dr Evan Laksmana in Talking Indonesia.

There’s now proof that Soeharto orchestrated the 1965 killings

Analysis, Human Rights, Security

According to official government narratives, the military was forced to step in to save the nation from a coup on 1 October 1965. Drawing on her remarkable new book, Dr Jess Melvin explains how rather than reluctantly stepping in, Soeharto and the military used existing military chains of command to actively seize power.

Reflections on 20 years of reform: former Constitutional Court chief Jimly Asshiddiqie

20 Years After Soeharto, Interview, Law

To mark 20 years since the fall of Soeharto and the New Order regime, Indonesia at Melbourne is speaking to a range of prominent figures about their views on the reform process. Today we speak to Professor Jimly Assiddiqie, the former head of the Constitutional Court.

Military spat a sign of things to come for bilateral relationship?

Analysis, Foreign Policy, Security

The exact details of what instigated the recent dispute between the Indonesian and Australian militaries remain unclear. But whatever the cause, Professor Tim Lindsey writes that the bilateral relationship is changing, and this kind of turbulence is likely to become more common.

Torture as theatre in Papua

Analysis, Human Rights

Dr Budi Hernawan has analysed 431 cases of torture that occurred in Papua between 1963 and 2010. He writes that although torture is generally considered a hidden crime, in Papua it is performed for an audience, sometimes spectacularly, and is designed to convey a message of terror from state authorities to the Papuan public. It is part of a larger strategy of domination by the Indonesian state, he says, in which the practice of torture is sanctioned and part of policy.

Jokowi's broken human rights promises

Analysis, Human Rights

President Joko Widodo has already shown signs that human rights will not be a top priority for his government. But as Christian Donny Putranto writes, few of Jokowi’s passionate campaigners would have ever imagined that two years after his election his administration would promote military officials involved in abducting pro-democracy activists to senior positions in security agencies.

Posts with tag: TNI