JP\/2\/2LAW<\/p>\n
Antiterror law revision gets tough on explosives<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The government is seeking to impose harsher punishments on those
\nwho illegally sell substances that can be used for making bombs.<\/p>\n
In a draft revision of Antiterrorism Law No. 15\/2002 made
\navailable to The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, the deliberate and
\nillegal sale of substances that can be used in the production of
\nexplosives will be punishable by up to 12 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Article 9A of the draft, which is dated July 22, also
\nstipulates that if the substances are subsequently proved to have
\nbeen used in a terrorist act, the supplier could be jailed for up
\nto 15 years.<\/p>\n
The move is seen as an attempt by the government to tighten
\nits control over the distribution of substances that can be used
\nin the manufacture of explosives. Indonesia has been rocked by a
\nseries of bomb attacks, especially since 2000, but security
\nofficials have not been able to fully control the distribution of
\nsuch substances.<\/p>\n
Last November, Sylvester Tendean, the owner of the Tidar
\nchemical stores, was prosecuted for his involvement in the Bali
\nbombings. The main suspect in the deadly bombings, Amrozi,
\nadmitted that he had acquired the chemicals used to manufacture
\nthe bombs from Sylvester's store.<\/p>\n
In the draft, the government also plans to get tougher on
\nthose who aid and abet terrorists.<\/p>\n
Under the current law, a maximum sentence of 15 years'
\nimprisonment may be imposed on those who provide assistance to
\nthe perpetrators of terrorist acts. The draft, however, also
\nprovides for a maximum 12-year term for those who had prior
\nknowledge about a possible terrorist attack but failed to alert
\nthe authorities.<\/p>\n
"And if the possible terrorist attack actually happens, the
\nsame person could face up to 15 years in jail," the draft says.<\/p>\n
Contrary to the fears of some, the revision of the
\nantiterrorism law does not seem destined to result in a draconian
\nSingapore or Malaysia-style Internal Security Act (ISA), or give
\nmore power to the military in the fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n
As the draft now stands, it makes no mention of the
\ninvolvement of Indonesian Military (TNI) intelligence in the
\nfight against terror.<\/p>\n
It only says in Article 26 that intelligence reports from
\ninstitutions other than the police could be used as evidence
\nafter being authenticated by the National Police chief.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the leading supporter of the revision of the
\nantiterrorism law, Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said that the
\ngovernment would give military intelligence the power to detect
\nand act on terror threats that required an immediate response.<\/p>\n
Susilo made the proposal on the ground that the military was
\nunderutilized while the police were suffering from personnel
\nshortages.<\/p>\n
The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) has also asked for more
\npowers in the war against terrorism, saying that its current
\nmarginal role had hampered the agency in its efforts to prevent
\nterrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
BIN director Hendropriyono complained that the intelligence
\nagency could not take preemptive measures as it had no powers of
\narrest. "Without the power to make arrests, BIN is like a German
\nshepherd dog kept on its leash by its owner so that it can't
\nchase after its quarry," he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has several intelligence organizations, including
\nBIN, Indonesian Military intelligence (BAIS), and intelligence
\nunits in the National Police and the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Critics have rejected the plan to give the military more
\npowers to fight against terrorism, saying that this could easily
\nlead to human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
Instead of asking for more powers, they say, the intelligence
\nagencies should improve their coordination with each other.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp22law-1447899208",
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