House agrees to drop the 1999 Emergency Law
House agrees to drop the 1999 Emergency Law
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives has agreed to drop
the 1999 emergency law and to provide some time for the
government to draft and socialize the new emergency bill.
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said the government could have
more time but underlined the needs to set up a new emergency law
to avoid further used of the repressive 1959 emergency law.
"But we do understand and agree to give more time to the
government," Akbar said.
The decision was made after a consultation meeting on Friday
between the House leaders and several cabinet ministers --
Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D.,
Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja
and Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra --
at the House leaders' meeting room.
"We have come to a new agreement as the House understands the
government's decision to drop the 1999 emergency law and give us
some flexible time to draft a new one," Yusril said at the joint
media briefing after the meeting.
The law was enacted by the House in September 1999, but was
later postponed indefinitely by then president B.J. Habibie
following violent street protests by students.
At least five people were killed in the protests, the majority
of the victims were shot by security forces.
Being aware of the importance of having a new emergency law,
the House and the government have included the bill on emergency
law on the list of 108 draft laws prioritized for deliberation
during the 2001 fiscal year.
Due to its postponement, the country will currently apply Law
No. 3/1959 that provides overwhelming power to the president in
deciding the security status of the country and to legalize
unrestricted military use to deal with certain conditions.
The law was used as a foundation for imposing the current
state of civil emergency in Maluku and North Maluku provinces
since July 2000.
Susilo said that the new draft of the emergency law will be
far more accommodative and responsive to human rights values, the
prerequisite in any democratic country.
"Although, the 1999 emergency law is far 'softer' than the
valid (1959) emergency law, the government will not force the
public to agree and enact the law," Susilo said.
He guaranteed to the public that the new bill will reflect the
democratization process and conditions required of a civil
society in the country. (dja)