Govt completes draft revision of antiterror law<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The government has completed the revised draft of much-criticized
\nAntiterrorism Law No. 15\/2003, which will grant more power to
\nsecurity authorities to deter acts of terrorism.<\/p>\n
Abdul Gani, director general of legislation at the Ministry of
\nJustice and Human Rights, said the revision was aimed at giving
\nsecurity authorities more room to combat terrorism.<\/p>\n
The draft will target not only perpetrators of acts of terror
\nbut also those who are indirectly involved in terrorism or who
\nassist the perpetrators, he said.<\/p>\n
Article 9 of the draft stipulates that people who sell
\nexplosive materials can be charged under the antiterrorism law if
\nthe materials can endanger human life or the environment, or if
\nthe materials are proven to have been used in terrorist
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Human rights activists oppose the antiterrorism law, saying it
\nopens the door to rights abuses, particularly an article that
\nstipulates intelligence reports are sufficient basis to prosecute
\na person for an alleged act of terrorism.<\/p>\n
Under the Criminal Code, preliminary evidence is required to
\nprosecute an individual.<\/p>\n
Turnig a deaf ear to human rights campaigners, the draft
\nrevision says intelligence information is enough to open a formal
\ninvestigation, with the approval of a district court judge. In
\ncomparison, the current law requires the consent of the head of a
\ndistrict court.<\/p>\n
\"We think getting approval from the head of a court is not
\neasy, therefore we think every judge should have the authority to
\ndeclare an intelligence report sufficient basis to launch an
\ninvestigation,\" Abdul Gani said.<\/p>\n
A judge is given three days to examine the intelligence report
\nbehind closed doors, according to the draft.<\/p>\n
\"The public will have no access to the examination process,
\notherwise we would only allow terror suspects to slip through our
\nfingers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Article 31 of the draft stipulates that security authorities
\n-- after securing approval from a judge -- are allowed to tap
\ntelephone conversations or examine all mail and correspondence
\nbelieved to be connected to acts of terror.<\/p>\n
Compared to Law No. 15\/2003, which allows the authorities to
\ndetain people for seven days in the absence of strong legal
\nevidence that he or she may have committed an act of terror, the
\ndraft revision extends the detention period to up to 30 days.<\/p>\n
The draft, nevertheless, reduces the detention period from six
\nmonths to only 120 days, or about four months.<\/p>\n
The revision also threatens a 12-year jail sentence for people
\nwho fail to inform security authorities of an act of terror or
\nwho help an act of terror take place.<\/p>\n
Article 13, line (b) of the draft says that people can be
\ncharged with committing acts of terrorism if they wear clothes or
\ndisplay symbols to create terror among the public. But Abdul Gani
\nsaid this article was still subject to change.<\/p>\n
\"We will soon propose the draft to the President and submit it
\nto lawmakers for deliberation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Revisions to the antiterrorism law<\/p>\n
-----------------------------------------------------------------<\/p>\n
Law No. 15\/2003 Revision
\n-----------------------------------------------------------------
\nArticle 25
\nProsecutors are allowed to detain people The detention period is
\nfor up to 6 months reduced to 120 days<\/p>\n
Article 26 (2)
\nIntelligence reports are a sufficient Approval from
\nbasis to prosecute a person, with approval district court judge
\nof a district court head is required<\/p>\n
Article 28
\nSecurity authorities can detain
\nsuspects for seven days Detention period extended<\/p>\n
to up to 30 days<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-completes-draft-revision-of-antiterror-law-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }