Antisubversion law must be revoked

From the meeting which took place yesterday (Friday) between the National Commission on Human Rights and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, a piece of refreshing news emerged. Feisal was reported to have agreed with the commission that the antisubversion law should be abrogated. Obviously, the law would not simply be revoked without much further ado. Rather, it would be done after a new law on national security is put in place.

We hope that such a national security law will be a good deal better than the present antisubversion law, especially in the sense that it does not provide too much leeway for officers to commit human rights abuses, as the antisubversion law which it replaces does. For this reason, we are of the opinion that the draft of the national security law should be laid open for fairly intense public debate. The views of experts and community leaders should be heard and made public so the public at large may judge the draft for its merits and demerits point by point.

The support and the participation of our entire society in this matter is of vital importance. It is more important than the presence of hundreds of battalions armed to the teeth. The public's support is also needed to lend legitimacy to any stern measures which the authorities may have to take for the sake of the nation's security.

The Indonesian public has clearly been very upset these days about the string of violent incidents which have occurred lately and which in general have exploited ethnic, religious, racial and group differences. A national security law which deters the exploitation of such sentiments and in addition is supported by the entire community because it was born through intense public debate is clearly needed.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta