Activists hold placards during a protest against the revision of the country's military law in front of the Parliament building in Jakarta on Thursday — EPA JAKARTA, Mar 20 (BBC): Indonesia's parliament has passed controversial changes to legislation that will allow its military a bigger role in government.
Critics warn that the move could return Indonesia to the dark days of Suharto's military dictatorship, which lasted 32 years until he was forced out of office in 1998.
The revisions backed by President Prabowo Subianto - a former special forces commander and Suharto's son-in-law - allow military officers to take up positions in government without first retiring or resigning from the armed forces.
Hundreds of pro-democracy activists have camped outside parliament since Wednesday evening to protest at the changes.
"The essence of democracy is that the military should not engage in politics. The military should only manage barracks and national defence," said Wilson, an activist with the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared (KontraS), a group advocating for activists who disappeared during a crackdown in 1997 and 1998.
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