Security Incident Unfolds at RUU TNI Committee Meeting
A recent security incident at the Fairmont Hotel in Jakarta has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the transparency of the legislative process. On Saturday, March 15, 2025, a security officer reported a disturbance during a committee meeting to discuss the RUU TNI bill. The incident, which involved individuals claiming to represent the Civil Society Coalition, disrupted the closed-door meeting between the House of Representatives Commission I and the government.
Security Officer’s Report and Police Response
The security officer at the Fairmont Hotel alerted the Jakarta Metro Police about the commotion that occurred during the RUU TNI committee meeting on Saturday. According to Chief of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, the report was filed promptly on the day of the incident.
The police received a report alleging public order disturbances, coercion, violent threats, and insults directed at authorities or legal entities in Indonesia. The report was filed by an individual identified as RYR. Commissioner Ade Ary further stated that the individuals involved in the incident are currently under investigation. The alleged offenses are being examined under various articles of Law Number 1 of 1946 regarding the Criminal Code.
The Genesis of the Incident
The disturbance unfolded when three individuals claiming to be part of the Civil Society Coalition surreptitiously entered the Fairmont Hotel. They barged into the RUU TNI committee meeting, causing a disruption during the deliberations between the House of Representatives Commission I and the government. The security officer at the hotel recounted that around 6:00 PM, the individuals entered the premises and began shouting demands in front of the meeting room, alleging that the meeting was conducted covertly and behind closed doors.
The Civil Society’s Interruption of the RUU TNI Meeting
Witnesses observed a dramatic interruption during the RUU TNI committee meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in Central Jakarta. Representatives from the Civil Society Coalition, claiming to advocate for Security Sector Reform, arrived outside the meeting room around 5:40 PM. Three individuals, dressed in black shirts and either gray or black jackets, displayed a banner expressing their opposition to the RUU TNI bill.
Upon entering the meeting room, they vocally protested against the bill, causing a temporary halt to the proceedings. Security personnel swiftly intervened to remove them from the premises, resulting in a minor physical altercation between the security team and the civilian representatives.
In a statement to the media, one of the civilian representatives highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the revision process of the TNI bill at the upscale Fairmont Hotel. They expressed concerns about the secretive nature of the discussions and questioned the rationale behind conducting the meeting clandestinely. Additionally, they submitted an open letter urging the House of Representatives Commission I to postpone further deliberations on the bill.
The civilian representative criticized the substance of the bill, asserting that it contradicts the government’s policy on military efficiency and falls short of promoting Security Sector Reform in Indonesia. Their presence at the meeting aimed to underscore the need for greater transparency and accountability in legislative processes.
As the investigation into the security incident unfolds, the implications of the disruption at the RUU TNI committee meeting continue to reverberate within political circles. The clash between security forces and civilian activists underscores the broader tensions surrounding the bill’s content and the manner in which it is being deliberated. The incident serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance between public participation and legislative protocol in shaping Indonesia’s security landscape.
