Second Era of Militarism

    Prabowo Subianto as the eighth president of Indonesia has been receiving tons of backlash majority of them coming from academia. The backlash happened due to the concern of National Armed Forces Law is being dismantled. The revision for armed forces or called RUU TNI is changing military structure, role, retirement policy, and including its involvement in civilian institutions. RUU TNI is basically prohibiting military to have the power nor chance to run the government. The National Armed Forces Law was being created as an impact of authoritarianism from the second president of Indonesia, Soeharto. Under Soeharto regime, Indonesia was governed with fearfulness especially those who were trying to challenge or against his will. Several names of journalists and activists have been kidnapped under his administration as well. Like Soeharto, Prabowo Subianto is also coming from military background. One was being elected due to ‘fight’ against harmful ideology, while the other was being voted for his popular program to address stunting.

     Communist party in Indonesia was being demolished because of G30S/PKI rebellion where 6 top military generals and one officer were being murdered in one night. Communist party argued they heard military is going to overthrow Soekarno administration which was more leaning to communist side. Post the entire gruesome event, people and especially military personnel were starting to massively hunting the leader of communist party and its supporters or members. Since the majority of followers from communist party were being consisted of low-income families and farmers, many of them were mercilessly being murdered. Nonetheless, given the horrific background of military, Indonesia as a democratic country in Southeast Asia did not want military to take have a seat in government whatsoever unless they have resigned from their military positions. President Prabowo might be the second test for Indonesians to prove they are not going to bow their head down under military rules. Indonesians need to show they are not the same as their ancestors who were being eaten by propagandas and using religious belief to massively kill innocent civilians as if in 1965 to 1966. Obviously, murdering military generals and an officer cannot be justified, but, it does not mean they can trade 7 people with more than hundred thousand souls of innocent civilians. It is ironically similar with the way IDF justified mass killing. Why did we fight others who did not have anything to begin with. Why we were being blinded with madness and venting towards others who can barely get their basic necessities instead of resisting those who were generating money from dividing our country. Nevertheless, speaking of basic necessities, President Prabowo is famously nor inherently known with his program to give free lunches.

    As far as I am concerned, free launch program is meant to address stunting for students. Me personally do agree with the program, I think free launch should be the bare minimum in public schools. However, looking at the students who are experiencing the program, it was not being executed properly. Beside of that, I would assume the program is not merely meant to simply giveaway free foods for minors, but might also to prepare next generation to qualify for serving in military. If one of the obstacles for joining military is somebody’s height need to be qualified, everybody now has the primary requirement to be enlisted. God forbid if we will have mandatory military services particularly in the era we are living where war between countries is in the end of politician’s fingertip. In spite of the concern of our future and military, they are not making education accessible, but military does. I also do believe in 4 years ahead under Prabowo administration our education will go nowhere but free launch. Maybe he possibly knew he is not going to be re-elected if government is highly invested in education and making it accessible or at least affordable since he gained massive votes from those who were being sympathetic towards him. Maybe keeping education less invested is the way politicians are sustaining their position. At the end of the day, we can demand everything which is considered urgency for massive interests as a community. This will be the time we are unified to say no for military in government. We can make Indonesia better place because we have every right from Pancasila and UUD. It is the right time to exercise our rights and this is the time we can end the cycle of disparity.

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