Academics propose intelligence bill<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A working group of military, legal and political analysts has
\ncompleted the draft of a new bill on intelligence aimed at
\nrestoring the badly tarnished image of state intelligence
\nagencies.<\/p>\n
Andi Widjajanto, spokesman for the Working Group for Reform of
\nState Intelligence, said the bill would soon be proposed to the
\nHouse of Representatives after being discussed further with the
\nrelevant non-governmental organizations.<\/p>\n
\"We are working hard to include the bill in one package with
\ntwo other bills -- one on witness protection and another on state
\nsecrets -- which are being deliberated at the House,\" he told a
\nmedia conference here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The working group was supported by the Pacivis Research Agency
\nat the University of Indonesia and financed by UNDP and the
\nPartnership in Governance Reform.<\/p>\n
Andi called on the House to use its right to propose the bill
\nfor deliberation with the government as a new legal basis for the
\nfunctioning of intelligence agencies in the country.<\/p>\n
The draft stipulates that state intelligence agencies have
\nthree core tasks of gathering information and analyzing it as
\nwell as forecasting before issuing an early warning on anything
\nthat could jeopardize the state and national security.<\/p>\n
\"All state institutions that have a role in state intelligence
\nare no longer allowed to use force, intelligence agents are
\nunarmed and they are not law enforcers,\" said Andi, also a
\nlecturer with the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The bill also recommends the establishment of a state
\nintelligence coordinating institute (LKIN) with the main task of
\ncoordinating all state institutions playing intelligence roles.
\nThese institutions include the Indonesian Military, the National
\nPolice, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
\"LKIN is a civilian body and is subordinate to the president
\nas the head of state. Its operation is covered by the state
\nbudget and its activities supervised by the House,\" Andi said.<\/p>\n
Cornelis Lay, a political analyst from Gadjah Mada University
\nin Yogyakarta, said the bill aimed to correct the state policy
\nthat puts national security above all else, including democracy
\nand human rights.<\/p>\n
\"The current concept of state intelligence was produced by
\npresident Soeharto's authoritarian regime and is no longer
\nrelevant. National security is as important as democracy and
\nhuman rights. We can no longer abandon everything for the sake of
\nnational security,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The bill also aims to correct the National Intelligence
\nAgency (BIN)'s failure to coordinate with other relevant state
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
\"BIN is extremely powerful but it lacks coordination with the
\npolice, military and other institutions in detecting terror
\nthreats. Its failure lies not in the absence of authority to
\narrest those whose activities harm the state but in the absence
\nof coordination with the police authorized to arrest people,\" he
\nsaid, adding it was very risky to allow intelligence agents to
\narrest suspects.<\/p>\n
Cornelis said the bill's content was far better than the one
\nwhich was dropped by the House.<\/p>\n
\"Before designing the bill, the working group read a lot of
\nliterature on intelligence and intelligence laws of Boznia, South
\nAfrica, the United States, Canada and Israel,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a political researcher from the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences (LIPI), criticized BIN's performance,
\nsaying it had functioned like Antara national news agency. He did
\nnot elaborate.<\/p>\n
\"In collecting information, BIN should be able to provide
\ncomplex but accurate reports from various sources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eyebox:<\/p>\n
Code of ethics for intelligence agents proposed in the bill<\/p>\n
Agents shall:
\n1. Comply with the state, Constitution and state institutions
\n2. Comply with the law and other regulations
\n3. Respect human rights
\n4. Carry out their tasks as a public service
\n5. Maintain secrecy
\n6. Maintain political neutrality
\n7. Not use force and repression
\n8. Not belong to any organization outside the intelligence agency
\n9. Not work on the basis of race, religion or ideological
\nsentiments
\n10. Be punished if they abuse their position<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/academics-propose-intelligence-bill-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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