Australia offers help on antiterror law reform<\/p>\n
Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Australian government has expressed concern over Indonesia's
\nantiterrorism laws, offering to send experts to help the country
\nreform its counterterror measures.<\/p>\n
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Wednesday
\nthe experts would share with their Indonesian counterparts their
\nexperience in reforming counterterrorism laws at home, and would
\nnot intervene in Indonesia's justice system.<\/p>\n
The experts would meet with Indonesian experts and discuss
\nlegal as well as institutional reforms with regard to
\ncounterterror measures, Downer said after meeting with Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"We'll be sending a team of officials who are experts in
\ncounterterrorism laws, in particular in the consultations we had
\nwith other countries over reforming our own counterterrorism laws
\nand the changes we've made recently, or are in the process of
\nmaking, in Australia to our counterterrorism laws,\" he said,
\nadding that the details would be announced in two days.<\/p>\n
\"This is an excellent example of the collaboration between the
\ntwo countries. Indonesia makes its own laws and makes decisions
\nabout what laws it wants to consider. But I think for the two
\ncountries to talk to each other about how we're handling the
\nlegal framework of counterterrorism is very important,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Australia agreed last month on the enforcement of a tough
\nantiterror law, in which a terror suspect can be detained without
\ncharge for up to 14 days. The law will be reviewed after five
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Downer is visiting Jakarta to meet with Indonesian government
\nofficials on a range of issues, including Canberra's objections
\nto a possible sentence remission for jailed Muslim cleric Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir, as well as Australia's desire to see Jakarta
\noutlaw al-Qaeda-linked regional terror group Jamaah Islamiyah.<\/p>\n
Downer declined to offer much comment on the issues, only
\nsaying that Indonesia was progressing very well in its
\ninvestigation into the Oct. 1 Bali bombings.<\/p>\n
\"Look, we're pleased that the Indonesian government is looking
\nvery closely at this remission issue, and that it is in a very
\nadvanced state of consideration.\"<\/p>\n
Minister Hassan welcomed Australia's initiative, and said
\nplans were already being discussed to improve Indonesia's
\ncounterterror capabilities during a Cabinet meeting in August.<\/p>\n
\"The Oct. 1 bombings in Bali give us the momentum to seriously
\nstudy the institutional and legal framework of counterterrorism,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said the legal issues discussed with Downer included the
\ndetention of terror suspects without charge and criminal charges
\nfor those who help facilitate terrorism and for people who incite
\nhatred.<\/p>\n
\"We are open to studying and comparing our experiences with
\nother countries. We welcome their initiative to share their
\nexperiences. But we do not feel obliged to approve these things,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He also said Indonesia was reviewing a 1999 presidential
\ndecree on prison remissions, particularly with regards to
\nextraordinary crimes such as terrorism.<\/p>\n
Downer attended a ceremony in Kuta, Bali, on Wednesday to
\ncommemorate the 2002 Bali bombings before flying to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He was accompanied by Chris Ellison, minister for justice and
\ncustoms; Les Luck, ambassador for counterterrorism at the
\nDepartment of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Bill Farmer,
\nambassador-nominee for Indonesia. Also attending Wednesday's
\nmeeting at the foreign ministry was David Ritchie, the current
\nAustralian ambassador to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Downer is scheduled on Thursday to meet with a number of
\nIndonesian officials, including National Police chief Gen.
\nSutanto and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin,
\nbefore returning home on the same day.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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