Beware of disinformation<\/p>\n
From Rakyat Merdeka<\/p>\n
One of the bills that has recently triggered a polemic is the
\nintelligence bill. Members of the elite, political activists,
\nexperts and even Vice President Hamzah Haz have made their
\ncomments on the matter.<\/p>\n
The controversy started when Deputy Chief of the National
\nIntelligence Agency (BIN) As'ad Said told the antiterrorism bill
\nspecial committee of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Feb.
\n21 that BIN needed to be authorized to arrest and detain those
\nbelieved to commit acts of terrorism for a specified period as a
\npreventive measure.<\/p>\n
In a democratic state, raising such an issue as a public
\ndiscourse is only proper, and after being studied by society, the
\nlegislative body will weigh all the pros and cons. But when the
\nissue turns into a sort of disinformation campaign, it could have
\na negative impact by spoiling the minds of laymen.<\/p>\n
This happened when Abdul Gani, the director general of
\nlegislation at the ministry of justice, was surprised to hear the
\nclaim made by Rachland Nasihil, program director of the
\nIndonesian Human Rights Watch, that he had received the
\nintelligence bill, which he described as substantially violating
\nhuman rights. Munir, its executive director, also
\nenthusiastically discussed the contents of the bill.<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz, commenting that this bill could
\nrestrict the freedom of critical activists, promptly instructed
\nhis United Development Party (PPP) faction in the DPR to reject
\nit. Meanwhile, the DPR Commission I had no knowledge of the
\npresence of the bill, and the BIN deputy chief himself said his
\nagency had not yet drafted such a bill.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the draft, as exposed by Munir and associates, was
\nas yet unclear and the public should watch out for any possible
\ndisinformation.<\/p>\n
ANDI BASSO
\nManila, Philippines<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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