Indonesia lawmakers set to pass amended bill allowing more military in government

JAKARTA - Indonesia is set to pass contentious revisions to a military law this week that will allow armed forces personnel to hold more civilian posts, a move that has triggered concern in a country once dominated by its all-powerful military.

The changes were approved on Tuesday by the house committee overseeing military, defence and foreign policy and according to lawmakers will be put to a wider vote on Thursday of parliament, which is controlled by President Prabowo Subiantos coalition.

Democracy groups have derided the proposed amendments, saying they could herald the return of Indonesias 1967-1998 New Order era of the late strongman President Suharto, who stacked his governments with generals and routinely crushed dissent.

Prabowo, a former defence minister and special forces commander who served under Suharto and was once his son-in-law, has expanded the armed forces role since taking power in October after winning the presidential election by a big margin.

The bill includes a change introduced into a later draft requiring military officers to resign before assuming civilian roles, said Gavriel Putra Novanto who presided over the committees meeting.

Current laws allow active soldiers to hold posts in organisations such as the defence ministry and state intelligence agency.

The new draft adds more state agencies to the list, including the attorney generals office, the state secretariat, the counter-terrorism agency and the narcotics agency, Gavriel said. It also extends sitting officers retirement age.

The latest draft of the bill has not been made available to the public. Prabowos office has denied it could usher in a second New Order era.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas said the revision was necessary due to current domestic and geopolitical challenges.

Rights groups have also complained the deliberations on the bill were rushed. On Saturday, some activists went to a Jakarta hotel