Experts differ on the use of terrorism law for Poso

Experts differ on the use of terrorism law for Poso

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Analysts had a mixed reaction to plans by the police to charge 15
suspects who attacked villagers in Poso, Central Sulawesi, under
the new terrorism law.

Hendardi from the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights
Association (PBHI) said the plan clearly showed the government's
intention to revive the subversion law.

"The plan only reminds us of the subversion law, which in the
past the government was able to interpret anyway it wished,"
Hendardi told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

At least 10 people, mostly Christians, were killed when masked
gunmen launched predawn raids on three coastal villages in Poso
on Oct. 12.

Two days earlier, assailants killed three people and burned
down nearly 30 houses and a church in Beteleme village, Lembo
subdistrict, Morowali regency.

The 15 suspects were arrested in a joint police and military
operation in the forests of Morowali. Six others were killed in
the operation, including Muhammadong, the alleged planner of the
attacks.

Most of the suspects are Poso natives, but at least two
originally came from Lamongan, East Java, the hometown of
convicted Bali bombers Amrozi, Ali Imron and Ali Ghufron, alias
Mukhlas.

Frans Hendra Winarta of the National Law Commission said the
use of Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism for the Poso attacks was
valid.

Both analysts were commenting on a statement by National
Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, who said the recent violence in
Poso could be categorized as terrorist acts.

Poso was the scene of a three-year conflict between Christian
and Muslim groups that began in 2000 and took more than 1,000
lives. Except sporadic violence, the hostility had waned in
recent months.

Hendardi said the statement by the police chief showed the
terrorism law could be applied arbitrarily by the government.

He said it was incorrect to use the law to charge the suspects
in the Poso attacks. The police, he said, should use the Criminal
Code to charge the suspects.

"I think the message is clear: to show that terrorist groups
exist in Indonesia. This will be followed by repressive
measures," Hendardi said.

Frans said the use of the terrorism law in the Poso conflict
was valid because there had been reports that groups in
Afghanistan were financing terrorist training camps in Poso.

Citing a statement from the head of the State Intelligence
Body, A.M. Hendropriyono, Frans said terrorist groups from
Afghanistan were thought to have been involved in the previous
violence in Poso.

However, he said the government must be cautious in
determining what is and is not terrorism.

"The security forces must be smart in defining what terrorism
is because a misinterpretation of the terrorism law would only
harm the people," Frans said.