Govt set to repeal subversion law
Govt set to repeal subversion law
JAKARTA (JP): The government is scheduled to repeal the
Subversion Law next week in response to fierce public criticism
and in order to bring the Criminal Code into accordance with the
recently approved anti-torture convention.
Antara quoted Romli Atmasasmita, the director general for laws
and legislations at the Ministry of Justice, as saying in Bandung
on Saturday that the move was the government's response to strong
public protests of the subversion law, which, when applied, often
trampled on human rights.
Romli was speaking at the launch of the book titled Thoughts
on Laws on Entering the 21st Century, which contains 39 works by
legal experts and analysts.
He told a audience of law experts, including former foreign
minister Mochtar Kusumaatmadja and Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo,
that under the New Order regime in particular, the mere suspicion
of subversive activities was enough to lead to detention for more
than one year.
Romli, who is also a criminal law expert at Padjadjaran
University, said the practice was a gross violation of human
rights.
The repeal of the subversion law, he said, is also associated
with the government's approval of the Anti-Torture Convention.
In anticipation of its implementation, he said, the government
was also revising the criminal code in accordance with the
convention.
Next week, the government will also place on the House of
Representatives' agenda bills on a clean government free from
collusion, corruption and nepotism; human rights; arbitration;
consumer protection; and a revision of the bankruptcy law.
Also next week, Romli added, the Ministry of Justice is
scheduled to submit a presidential decree to the State
Secretariat on the establishment of a commission to audit the
wealth of government officials.
Comprising government officials and members of the public, the
commission will be installed by and be accountable to the
President. It will also answer to both to the State Audit Board
and the House of Representatives.
Romli said that by virtue of the decree, the commission will
be authorized to audit the wealth of the President, Cabinet
members, legislators and governors, before, during and after
their respective terms of office.
He added that the current Development Reform Cabinet, which
only had one year to carry out its programs, had been working on
44 draft laws, 80 percent of which were initiated and drawn up by
the Ministry of Justice at a cost of Rp 11 billion in the
1999/2000 fiscal year. Among these bills was one dealing with the
establishment of a militia and one regulating the 1999 general
election and political parties.
Under the political parties bill, he added, the parties will
be required to report to and register with the Ministry of
Justice rather than with the General Election Institute or the
Ministry of Home Affairs as was the practice in the past. (swe)