Government bows to pressure, revises antiterrorism bills
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.