Indonesia’s new leader expands military’s role in test of fragile democracy
“Critics of President Prabowo Subianto point to the former defence minister’s early actions as a worrying sign of his tendency to replace civilian functions with the military, raising comparisons to a Suharto-era doctrine called ‘dwifungsi’ (dual function) that allowed the armed forces to crush dissent and dominate public life.”
“His allies in parliament are also preparing legislation that would allow Prabowo to appoint active military officers into senior government positions, dismantling some of the safeguards put in place after Suharto was overthrown in 1998 following an economic crisis and popular uprising.”
Read the full news item from Reuters.