Government bows to pressure, revises antiterrorism bills
A'an Suryana and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Cirebon
Bowing to internal pressure, the government has made changes on some contentious articles in two antiterrorism bills, especially in regard to intelligence information.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the government decided to revise the article on intelligence information, which was to be used to investigate suspected terrorists, due to strong public criticism and even rejection of the clause.
"According to the new bills, the secret intelligence would be valid and could be used to start an investigation if there is already verification from the Indonesian Intelligence Agency (BIN)," said Yusril.
The article on intelligence information has drawn public criticism as it gives excessive power to authorities to arrest and detain people based solely on classified information.
According to Yusril, the fear was unwarranted as the information would serve as preliminary evidence and it could not be used in court proceedings.
Nonetheless, to calm down certain elements in the country, the much debated article would be changed in the anti-terrorism bills that the House of Representatives would soon deliberate upon, said Yusril.
Besides the changes, the new anti-terrorism bills would contain new clauses, including one on the use of teleconference communications in the investigation into terror activities, said Yusril.
The use of the technology would help investigators build cases by getting information from witnesses or suspects abroad, who had necessary knowledge or information on any case, he said.
Yusril said the drafting of the two antiterrorism bills were now complete and ready to be submitted to the House.
The bill, when passed by the House, will replace the two government regulations in lieu of a law on terrorism, which sparked some public criticism due to the articles that would give security forces the authority to arrest and detain people without trial.
The government has asked the House to refrain from debating the merits of the regulations and instead immediately begin work on the bills. The House has agreed to do so.
"Not only the Cabinet, but the House could also amend the antiterrorism bills later, to appease the public," Yusril told reporters after addressing a seminar here, entitled "Shared Responsibility in Combating Terrorism: Post Bali Tragedy."
Human rights activists have voiced their concerns and even rejection against the regulations as well as the bill, arguing that both the regulations and the bills would only create opportunities for human rights violations.
Some argued that the existing Criminal Code was enough to deal with terror-related threats to security.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students from various universities in Cirebon, demanded on Tuesday that the government revoke its recent regulations.
According to the students, the implementation of the regulations was "dangerous" as they were "U.S.-sponsored" and unfairly equated Indonesian Muslims with terrorists.