Security bill will not replace subversion law<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government reiterated yesterday the
\ncontroversial subversion law is here to stay, despite the growing
\nclamor for it to be replaced by an internal security act.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat said after a
\nplenary meeting with the House of Representatives that the
\ngovernment was drafting an internal security bill, that it would
\nnot replace the 1963 Subversion Law.<\/p>\n
He defended the subversion law, which carries a maximum
\npenalty of death and is known to have been used to cover a very
\nwide range of offenses. He admitted however that the law did need
\nimprovement.<\/p>\n
Edi said the draft is being discussed at the State
\nSecretariat. A government-sponsored bill must be approved by the
\nState Secretariat before going to the House.<\/p>\n
\"The internal security bill covers different issues from those
\nin the subversion law. The two regulations are very different
\nthings.\"<\/p>\n
Edi said it was unlikely that the House would begin
\ndeliberating the internal security bill before the current
\nlegislators end their five-year term on Sept. 30.<\/p>\n
\"We'd better work step by step. It takes more than one or two
\ndays to draw up a bill,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The House is deliberating four security and defense affairs
\nbills. They are on military tribunals, mass mobilization,
\nmilitary discipline and the national police.<\/p>\n
Edi was commenting on a call from the United Development Party
\n(PPP) faction that the government should submit the internal
\nsecurity bill as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
PPP spokesman Zarkasih Nur told the plenary session discussing
\nthe four bills yesterday that an internal security act should
\nserve as a revision of the subversion law.<\/p>\n
\"Punitive measures against those charged with subversive
\ncrimes cannot be separated from all efforts to maintain national
\nsecurity,\" Zarkasih said.<\/p>\n
PPP concluded that the subversion law did not comply with a
\n1966 decision of the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly
\nwhich suggests the abolition of all laws whose substances is
\ncontrary to the 1945 Constitution.<\/p>\n
Edi said: \"We are considering adjustment of the law in order
\nto catch up with the recent development of our society. It needs
\na process, so give us time.\"<\/p>\n
He stressed that a subversion law remained relevant although
\nthe government had been successful in maintaining political
\nstability.<\/p>\n
Support<\/p>\n
Hari Sabarno, vice chairman of the Armed Forces faction on
\nHouse Commission I for foreign affairs, defense and information,
\nbacked the government's stance.<\/p>\n
\"People should not worry about the legal consequences of the
\nlaw provided they do not try to violate it. I believe the
\ngovernment will not apply the law arbitrarily,\" Hari said.<\/p>\n
The latest instance of people being charged with subversion is
\nthe ongoing trials of nine People's Democratic Party activists
\nand a union leader in connection with their alleged roles in the
\nJuly 27 riots.<\/p>\n
The same charges look certain to be leveled against four youth
\nactivists who have been accused of inciting riots in Tasikmalaya,
\nWest Java, in December.<\/p>\n
Hari said that a national security act should regulate all
\nmeasures that could possibly be taken by security authorities
\nwhen the state is in danger, while the subversion law determines
\nmeasures that can be taken against political criminals.<\/p>\n
Hari admitted the subversion law contained clauses known as
\n\"rubber clauses\" that are notoriously stretchable to cover a wide
\nrange of offenses. \"It's important, therefore, to avoid the
\napplication of the subversion law if other rulings are sufficient
\nto punish someone,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party has joined the call for the
\nabolition of the subversion law, saying it paves the way for
\nhuman rights violations.<\/p>\n
Party spokesman B.N. Marbun, said the internal security act
\ncould include some clauses of the subversion law provided they
\nwere relevant to the current situation. (amd)<\/p>",
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