Witch hunt junket for 60 lawmakers
Margareth Aritonang, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Fri, March 22 2013, 2:58 PM
Despite massive criticism for irrational pronouncements, the House’s
legal commission members plan trips to three European countries including Russia to ‘find
facts’ for the Criminal Code and Criminal Code Procedures revisions.
The lawmakers will
go in four groups of 15, departing between April 14 and 19 to the Netherlands, France,
the UK and Russia. Among the
facts they hope to find and insight on how to deal the impact of black magic on
society.
"Black magic is a part of witchcraft, which has existed everywhere since a
long time ago," Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah from the United Development
Party (PPP) said on Friday.
"Many people believe in black magic. That's why we need to regulate it to
avoid communal judgement," he added.
Activists have been asking why the lawmakers intend to put a chapter on
black magic into the new codes, arguing that law enforcers would meet serious
obstacles in proving the acts had been committed. (dic)
