Government to revise state security bill
Government to revise state security bill
JAKARTA (JP): The government will revise the controversial
State Security Bill to include a provision that will require the
approval of both the provincial council and local administration
prior to a presidential declaration of a state of emergency in a
particular area.
The revisions are to be brought forward when Minister of Law
and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra and Minister of Defense
Juwono Sudarsono meet with House of Representatives leaders here
on Monday.
Despite strong protests when the bill was initially passed in
1999, the government maintains that it is needed to handle the
many riots that have spread throughout the country.
After meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid at Merdeka
Palace on Friday, Yusril, who was accompanied by Juwono, said
revisions would be made so the bill will be better received by
the public.
"There is no need to worry," Yusril said referring to the many
concerns surrounding the bill which, though already passed, was
suspended by the government due to widespread protests.
The proposed revision will replace the current prerogative of
the president to declare an extraordinary state situation, a
state of emergency, or a state of war provincially or nationwide
after consulting or obtaining approval from the House.
In case of a state of emergency under the present security
bill, the local administration would be taken over by the
military, assisted by a special team comprising the governor,
provincial police, government prosecutors, provincial council and
societal group representatives.
Other revisions to be made concern the president's ability to
declare war. Under the proposed change, the president can declare
war against a foreign country only if Indonesia is attacked
first.
These revisions are designed to address the strong concerns
over the present bill which critics say gives excessive power to
the military in a state emergency situation.
These revisions are not expected to encounter opposition from
legislators who seem to agree that a state security bill is
needed.
The Indonesian Military has repeatedly asked for a legal
foundation when handling separatist movements in Aceh, Irian Jaya
and the continuing sectarian clashes in Maluku.
Yusril pointed out that the absence of a new State Security
Bill means that the government is forced to use the old Law No.
22/1959 and government regulation No. 15/1966, both more
repressive then the new bill. (dja)