Lawmakers in Indonesia are expected to approve an altered bill that will allow the military to have additional power

This week, Indonesia is expected to approve controversial changes to a military legislation that would permit members of the armed services to occupy more civilian positions. This development has raised concerns in a nation that was once ruled by its all-powerful military.

According to MPs, the revisions will be presented to a larger vote in parliament, which is controlled by President Prabowo Subianto’s coalition, on Thursday after being agreed on Tuesday by the house committee that oversees military, defense, and foreign policy.

The proposed modifications have been mocked by democracy groups, who claim they might bring back Indonesia’s “New Order” period of 1967–1998 under the late strongman President Suharto, who frequently repressed dissent and filled his governments with generals.

Since assuming office in October following a landslide victory in the presidential election, Prabowo, a former defense minister and special forces commander who was formerly Suharto’s son-in-law, has increased the role of the military forces.

According to Gavriel Putra Novanto, who chaired the committee meeting, the law has a provision that was added to a subsequent draft that requires military officers to resign before taking on civilian positions.

As of right now, active troops are permitted to work for the state intelligence agency and the military ministry.

The attorney general’s office, the state secretariat, the counterterrorism agency, and the narcotics agency are among the additional state agencies that have been added to the list in the latest draft, according to Gavriel. Additionally, it raises the retirement age for current officers.

The public has not been given access to the most recent version of the law. The possibility of a second “New Order” era has been denied by Prabowo’s office.

According to Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas, the modification was required because of the current geopolitical and domestic issues.

Rights organizations have also expressed dissatisfaction at the hurried bill discussions. While MPs were debating the bill on Saturday, some activists staged a protest at a hotel in Jakarta, claiming that they were ignoring it and not soliciting public opinion.

The deputy speaker of parliament, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, claimed that lawmakers had been open and honest and denied that the bill was being hurried through.