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House likely to reject TNI request to redefine terrorism concept
The House of Representatives is likely to reject the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) request to redefine the concept of terrorism in the draft revision of the 2003 Terrorism Law, a lawmaker said on Thursday.
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Stay alert -- The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad personnel stand guard during a security operation, recently. (Persda Network/Bina Harnansa)
T
he House of Representatives is likely to reject the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) request to redefine the concept of terrorism in the draft revision of the 2003 Terrorism Law, a lawmaker said on Thursday.
United Development Party (PPP) lawmaker Arsul Sani said the TNI had requested that terrorism no longer be considered a crime, so that it could get involved in counterterrorism measures.
He said the request could not be fulfilled because the majority of political factions in the House’s special committee for the deliberation of the law revision wanted the TNI’s roles in counterterrorism operations only within a provision of assistance.
"We cannot grant the TNI’s request for full authority in counterterrorism. Its request for the House to define that terrorism is not a crime also can't be granted because what we are discussing now is a law revision, not a new bill," said Arsul, who is also a member of the committee.
Arsul said the House might grant the TNI the authority to get involved in the handling of terrorist attacks that could not be addressed by the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit alone, such as airplane or vessel hijacking by terrorists on Indonesian soil.
However, he said, the leading force of counterterrorism operations would remain in the hands of the National Police, as stipulated by prevailing laws.
Article 7 of the 2004 TNI Law states that the TNI can be involved into non-military operations, including antiterrorism operations based on a political decision from the President and the House’s approval. (ebf)
