DPR must reject security bill

DPR must reject security bill

From Media Indonesia

As a layman I am concerned about the state security bill (RUU KKN) that is currently being debated by the House of Representatives (DPR) without taking into consideration the community's objections to the bill.

We have had enough violence these days involving the Indonesian Military in several regions -- Aceh, Ambon, East Timor and Irian Jaya. Just imagine how many more people will become victims of military actions if the military is given the absolute power and extraordinary right to handle the state's security, disregarding existing laws.

I cannot believe that the Habibie regime is quite ready to design a security bill which empowers the military to punish people without giving them the right to a fair trial. The bill allows the military to arrest, detain or to put someone under house arrest or to exile him without trial.

The bill does not guarantee the security of society, neither does it protect the rights of the people -- the children and the families. The bill even gives the right to the military to confiscate the people's property, which means that the notary's job is replaced by military personnel with the rank of major. Moreover, all state courts can be replaced by military tribunals.

This view alone is enough to make our hair stand on end, because the bill, when implemented, has the potential to change the status of the country from a lawful state to a military junta.

As head of the government, Habibie, who lived in a foreign country for 20 years, should not necessarily lose his sensitivity of the people's interests. It will be wise, therefore, for Habibie's government to withdraw the security bill to prevent the nation from further disintegration. And the House should strongly reject the bill. Forget about the government's promise to give the legislators a severance allowance of Rp 150 million at the cost of the country's gloomy future.

SULISTYA PUTRA

Jakarta