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Govt, House to revise defamation charges in ITE Law
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Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara (center) laughs during a working meeting with the House of Representatives Commission I overseeing intelligence, security and foreign affairs at the House complex on Wednesday. The government and the House have agreed to focus on an article on defamation in the revision of 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law and to pass the bill in June. (Antara/M. Agung Rajasa)
T
he government and the House of Representatives will focus on an article on defamation in the amendment of the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, as both have agreed to pass the bill in June.
The government and House have completed the bill's problem inventory list, which will be deliberated before the House's recess on April 30. The government held a working meeting with House Commission I overseeing intelligence, defense and foreign affairs on Wednesday.
The key article covers criminal charges for defamation, Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said at the House complex.
The current law stipulates a maximum sentence of six years’ imprisonment for people charged under the article. However, the government proposed a maximum four-year sentence to minimize multiple interpretations, Rudiantara said.
Moreover, charges would need to be based on formal complaints.
"There must be someone who reports it. Has any party been offended?" Rudiantara told journalists after the meeting.
The House aimed to complete the deliberation of the revised ITE bill by June, Commission I deputy chairman TB Hasanuddin said.
The commission will discuss the bill before late April. Deliberations will continue in May as a final draft would be expected by early June, so Commission I could present it at the House's plenary meeting, according to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker. (rin)
