Govt submits bill on citizen mobilization<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new bill authorizes the president to mobilize
\ncitizens to the battle front if the Armed Forces exerting all its
\nforce is unable to stop a threat.<\/p>\n
The bill on citizen mobilization, submitted to the House of
\nRepresentatives by Minister of Defense and Security Edi
\nSudradjat, regulates the participation of people 18 to 50 years
\nof age in the defense system.<\/p>\n
Edi told a House session chaired by Deputy Speaker Ismail
\nHasan Metareum that the mobilization bill was needed to
\nanticipate the growing crisis threatening the nation's existence.<\/p>\n
Edi said the new bill would regulate the mechanisms of
\nmobilization of all resources, and demobilization when the crisis
\nwas over.<\/p>\n
\"The mobilization of either armed and unarmed citizens will be
\nimplemented in times of crisis when the Armed Forces is no longer
\ncapable of coping with it,\" Sudrajat said.<\/p>\n
In the draft bill the Armed Forces are the Army, Navy, Air
\nForce, Police and the reserve army.<\/p>\n
According to the bill, the President as the highest commander
\nof the Armed Forces, has the authority to declare mobilization
\nand demobilization. Mobilization would follow the President's
\nannouncement that the state was at war.<\/p>\n
Indonesia inherits the doctrine of people's participation in
\nthe national defense and security system from between 1945 and
\n1950, the early years of independence.<\/p>\n
\"War is always the last resort (to solve a conflict), when
\nour independence, sovereignty and national unity is threatened,\"
\nEdi said.<\/p>\n
Edi said the deployment of armed and unarmed citizens in a
\nstate of emergency was suggested by international humanitarian
\nlaws.<\/p>\n
The draft bill calls armed citizens combatants and unarmed
\nones non-combatants.<\/p>\n
The bill regulates punitive measures for people who refuse the
\nmobilization call-up or refuse to submit any belongings needed
\nduring mobilization. The article on penalties will affect
\ngovernment officials who abuse power or refuse to return
\nbelongings to owners during demobilization.<\/p>\n
Mobilization does not abolish people's rights over their
\nbelongings, jobs and education, according to the draft bill.<\/p>\n
The government also delivered yesterday the draft bill on
\nmilitary tribunal intended to replace the old one passed in 1970.<\/p>\n
The bill will put all judicial proceedings involving the
\nmilitary under the supervision of the Armed Forces chief, instead
\nof the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Chief Justice is the ex-officio chairman of the
\nMilitary Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The draft bill suggests the new Military Supreme Court carry
\nout the Armed Forces chief's daily supervisory job, with the
\nSupreme Court serving as an advisory body.<\/p>\n
The President names military court judges on advice from the
\nArmed Forces chief and approval of Supreme Court chief. (imn\/amd)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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