House endorses bill on RI-HK extradition treaty
House endorses bill on RI-HK extradition treaty
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives passed a bill on
Tuesday that will allow the administrations of Indonesia and Hong
Kong to surrender fugitives pursued by each country.
In a plenary session, led by deputy House Speaker Soetardjo
Soerjogoeritno and attended by Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Affairs Baharuddin Lopa, all 11 House factions endorsed
the draft law, agreeing that it is necessary to have such an
agreement with the Chinese special administrative region (SAR).
Each faction underlined the law's importance, considering that
many people, who are either currently on trial or have already
been convicted, had subsequently fled abroad, some to Hong Kong.
The draft law stipulates that 30 days after the House ratifies
the bill the agreement will take effect and both parties will be
obliged to comply with it. It is during this period that the
Indonesian government will inform Hong Kong of the ratification.
Although the agreement was already signed in 1997, the
Indonesian government only sought the House's approval four years
later.
While Hong Kong is not a Chinese state, the Hong Kong
administration is authorized to sign the agreement with
Indonesia.
Currently, Indonesia has extradition treaties with Malaysia,
since 1974; the Philippines since 1976; Thailand since 1978; and
Australia since 1994.
In their agreement, Indonesia and Hong Kong enlisted 44 legal
offenses subject to the arrangement, including attempted murder,
murder, abduction, drug offenses, corruption, bribery, possession
of firearms, and fraud. The offenses must be acknowledged by both
parties.
The two parties will not surrender people who have been
exonerated or released from all charges and are allowed to reject
demands to surrender their own citizens.
The agreement states that both parties are also allowed to
reject a request to surrender people condemned to a death
sentence or who have committed politically motivated offenses.
Also on Tuesday, the House special committee discussing the
broadcast bill submitted the controversial draft law to the House
plenary session for further debate, suggesting that the draft is
open for revision and improvement.
Special committee chairman Dimyati Hartono underlined that the
draft had accommodated input from various parties and was the
outcome of 11 submissions presented by non-government
organizations.
"I hope the draft law will contribute to the improvement of
broadcasting affairs, especially relating to technology
development," Dimyati told the session.
The draft has received strong criticism, with many saying that
it defies the spirit of reform and restricts press freedom. It is
believed that the draft bill burdens broadcasters with too many
responsibilities and threatens them with penalties that are too
severe, ranging from fines to jail sentences.
The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Agum
Gumelar, who attended the session, said the House should discuss
the bill carefully before enacting it.
Agum was one of many people who urged that the draft be
revised before being deliberated by the House. (dja)
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives passed a bill on
Tuesday that will allow the administrations of Indonesia and Hong
Kong to surrender fugitives pursued by each country.
In a plenary session, led by deputy House Speaker Soetardjo
Soerjogoeritno and attended by Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Affairs Baharuddin Lopa, all 11 House factions endorsed
the draft law, agreeing that it is necessary to have such an
agreement with the Chinese special administrative region (SAR).
Each faction underlined the law's importance, considering that
many people, who are either currently on trial or have already
been convicted, had subsequently fled abroad, some to Hong Kong.
The draft law stipulates that 30 days after the House ratifies
the bill the agreement will take effect and both parties will be
obliged to comply with it. It is during this period that the
Indonesian government will inform Hong Kong of the ratification.
Although the agreement was already signed in 1997, the
Indonesian government only sought the House's approval four years
later.
While Hong Kong is not a Chinese state, the Hong Kong
administration is authorized to sign the agreement with
Indonesia.
Currently, Indonesia has extradition treaties with Malaysia,
since 1974; the Philippines since 1976; Thailand since 1978; and
Australia since 1994.
In their agreement, Indonesia and Hong Kong enlisted 44 legal
offenses subject to the arrangement, including attempted murder,
murder, abduction, drug offenses, corruption, bribery, possession
of firearms, and fraud. The offenses must be acknowledged by both
parties.
The two parties will not surrender people who have been
exonerated or released from all charges and are allowed to reject
demands to surrender their own citizens.
The agreement states that both parties are also allowed to
reject a request to surrender people condemned to a death
sentence or who have committed politically motivated offenses.
Also on Tuesday, the House special committee discussing the
broadcast bill submitted the controversial draft law to the House
plenary session for further debate, suggesting that the draft is
open for revision and improvement.
Special committee chairman Dimyati Hartono underlined that the
draft had accommodated input from various parties and was the
outcome of 11 submissions presented by non-government
organizations.
"I hope the draft law will contribute to the improvement of
broadcasting affairs, especially relating to technology
development," Dimyati told the session.
The draft has received strong criticism, with many saying that
it defies the spirit of reform and restricts press freedom. It is
believed that the draft bill burdens broadcasters with too many
responsibilities and threatens them with penalties that are too
severe, ranging from fines to jail sentences.
The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Agum
Gumelar, who attended the session, said the House should discuss
the bill carefully before enacting it.
Agum was one of many people who urged that the draft be
revised before being deliberated by the House. (dja)