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Counterterrorism sans human rights
In passing its new terror legislation recently, Indonesia has clearly failed to learn its lesson.
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Members of the National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad pose for a photo after ending an almost 30-hour riot and standoff at the Mobile Brigade's detention center in Depok, West Java, on May 10. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
here is a global message on terrorism legislation: the broader it is the more prone people will be to being wrongly arrested and prosecuted in the name of the “war on terror”.
In passing its new terror legislation recently, Indonesia has clearly failed to learn its lesson.
After being in limbo since 2016, the new law was approved at breakneck speed on May 26 following a series of appalling, violent attacks across the country that killed a total of 39 people.
The newly amended Terrorism Law, the original version of which was promulgated in the wake of the 2002 Bali bombing, puts the country’s human rights at risk. Its draconian provisions go against international law and in particular treaties to which Indonesia is party to.
