A number of crucial issues in the bill, such as the definition of terrorism and the involvement of the TNI, have been agreed among members of the government coalition of President Joko Widodo and VP Jusuf Kalla.
By
·4 minutes read
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Deliberation of the Terrorism Bill is targeted for completion in June. A number of crucial issues in the bill, such as the definition of terrorism and the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI), have been agreed among members of the government coalition of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Specific terms of the bill were agreed in a meeting on Monday (14/05/2018) between the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto and seven secretary-generals and faction heads of the government coalition in Jakarta. The seven parties are the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP), the Nasdem Party and Hanura.
Also present at the meeting were representatives of two new pro-government parties, the Indonesian Solidarity Party and the United Indonesia Party.
Just before the meeting, President Jokowi said he would issue a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) if the draft Terrorism Bill the government submitted in February 2016 to the House of Representatives (DPR) for deliberation was not ratified by the end of June, as the National Police needed an effective legal umbrella to combat terrorism.
Approved
Wiranto said that the meeting agreed on a number of points in the bill, such as the definition of terrorism and the TNI’s involvement in the fight against terror. "Therefore, there is nothing more to debate. In a short time, hopefully we will be able to endorse the revision immediately," said Wiranto.
House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said that if the President had asked that the bill be finalized by June, the DPR was ready to strike the gavel in May. "Let the government resolve its internal problem as one voice," he said.
Previously, the government proposed a definition for terrorism as any act that deliberately uses violence or the threat of violence in a manner that gives rise to an atmosphere of terror or fear, causes mass casualties or causes damage or destruction to strategic vital objects, the environment, public facilities or international facilities.
However, a number of House factions have asked that the phrase "for a political purpose, motive, ideology or action threatening state security" be added to the definition.
United Development Party (PPP) secretary-general Arsul Sani said the definition, which was agreed internally between the government coalition and the government, would include the additional phrase as part of the general explanation and not in the definition of terrorism in the body of the law.
Separately, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said he did not mind if the TNI as involved in countering terrorism. The details of TNI\'s role would be arranged in a Presidential Regulation (Perpres). "The National Police do not have any objections to the TNI’s participation. We have common enemies in the interest of the nation and state. We believe we can overcome these [terrorist] groups together," he said.
A PDI-P faction member of the bill’s deliberation team, Risa Mariska, said the terror accommodated a number of stipulations that law enforcement agencies needed to combat terrorism in a preventive manner, not only reactively.
Accrording to the Terrorism Bill, law enforcement officials can criminalize any preparatory activities, such as possessing chemical weapons, explosives and other components that could be used to perpetuate acts of terror. Authorities could also take action against planned terror acts.
The bill also authorizes law enforcement officials to legally process anyone who engaged in military or paramilitary training in preparation for terror acts. In addition to imprisonment, such persons may also be subject to additional punishment that revoked their right to a passport and a ban on border crossings for a maximum period of five years.
"So the existing shortcomings have already been addressed in this bill," said Risa.