Antiterrorism bill to be deliberated
Antiterrorism bill to be deliberated
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Despite opposition from human rights activists, the government
and the House of Representatives agreed on Monday to start
deliberations on the antiterrorism bill as part of its effort to
combat terrorism in the country.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the proposed law would provide
legal grounds for upholding national security from possible
terrorist attacks.
"In a very short time, we will submit the antiterrorism bill
to the House for further deliberation," he told a news conference
after a consultative meeting between the government and the
House.
The meeting was also attended by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung,
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and National
Intelligence Body (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono.
Minister Yusril said the bill was almost ready and currently
in the hands of Coordinating Minister Susilo for further reading.
"By the end of this month, we hope to inform the public about
its contents, get input from them and then put it before the
House," he said.
Yusril said the bill identifies seven kinds of terrorist
activities as opposed to ordinary crimes.
Anyone carrying weapons, explosives or chemical substances
that threaten the public's safety and could be used for terrorist
attacks could be charged with conducting terrorism.
Other activities, such as bombing supermarkets, destroying
public facilities or vital infrastructure and foreign premises,
would also be categorized as terrorist activities.
"Those activities would come under the planned antiterrorism
law, while other crimes, such as murders, will be under the
criminal code," he said.
Human rights activists have voiced their opposition against
the drafting of the antiterrorism bill, fearing that the bill --
when passed into law -- could be used by power holders to silence
critics or political opponents.
Despite the opposition, the government has insisted on
continuing the draft of the antiterrorism bill in an apparent
effort to ease foreign pressure, especially from the U.S., which
has asked Indonesia to do more in its fight against terrorism.
Indonesia has been accused by a number of foreign countries of
being a safe haven for terrorists linked to al-Qaeda.
The government and security authorities initially denied the
accusation, but as pressure mounts from foreign countries,
including the U.S., security forces have started to take serious
action against alleged terrorists.
The National Police have arrested and deported a suspected
senior al-Qaeda operative, Omar al-Faruq, and detained another
suspected terrorist, Seyam Reda, a German national of Arab
descent.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday that
he would send a team of three policemen and intelligence officers
to the U.S. to interrogate al-Faruq.
"We have gotten a green light from the U.S. government, and
we'll decide when we're going to leave," he said.