Constitutional Court controversy

Constitutional Court controversy

From Koran Tempo

The Constitutional Court's decision to declare
unconstitutional Law No.16/2003 on antiterrorism, as it conflicts
with a new provision in the recently amended Constitution, is
certainly controversial.

The move has shocked victims of the October 12, 2002 Bali
bombings, their families and the people of Bali in particular, as
well as the Indonesian public and international community, due to
its implications for the eradication of terrorist acts in
Indonesia.

The Bali tragedy and other bombings in Indonesia constitute a
crime against humanity, which has already claimed the lives of
numerous innocent civilians. By regarding the Bali bombings as an
ordinary criminal act, the court has only taken into account the
rights of its perpetrators.

The court's decision may relieve those responsible for the
Bali tragedy, and provide the opportunity for future acts of
terrorism. Strangely, the decision emerged as law enforcers were
hunting down terrorists and the government was escalating the war
on terrorism.

Let us hope the same thing will not happen when the court
decides on the complaint filed by Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid
over lost votes in the first round of the presidential election.

I GEDE SUARSA
Denpasar, Bali