TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Terrorism Law "should respect human rights": Lawmakers

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Thu, March 16, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

 Terrorism Law "should respect human rights": Lawmakers United Development Party (PPP) secretary-general Arsul Sani (Abba Gabrillin/via kompas.com)

T

he House of Representatives aims to make a comprehensive Terrorism Law that respects human rights principals amid concerns about law enforcers' alleged rights violations when handling terrorism cases.

A member of the House's special committee on the amendment of the law, Arsul Sani, said the House had recommended the establishment of a supervisory body to monitor the performance of the police's Densus 88 antiterror squad and other institutions relevant to counterterrorism.

"The police don't agree with the plan because they claim establishing a new body would be costly to the state budget." he said on Wednesday.

(Read also: House pledges transparency in Terrorism Law deliberations)

Instead, the force insisted on extending the detention period of terrorism suspects to 30 days from previously seven. "The police claimed seven days was not enough to make the suspects open their mouths," he said.

Almost all factions at the House rejected the idea considering the potential abuse of power by the police officers against the suspects during the 30-day period, Arsul said.

Mobile Brigade personnel from the Jakarta Police are on guard in front of a house in Setu, South Tangerang, Banten, where a suspected terrorist was shot dead in a raid on Dec. 21.(Antara/Muhammad Iqbal)

In addition, the police had also insisted that the new law should give them the power to arrest people suspected of planning or preparing a terrorist attack.

"The deliberation of this amendment is a heavy task because we have to find the best and most balanced formula," he added. (bbs)

(Read also: Police arrest two more suspects in Bandung attack)

 

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.