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)