Nat'l Police Chief Highlights Weaknesses in Existing Counterterrorism Law
Jakarta. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian says the 2003 Anti-terrorism Law contains several weaknesses.
"Therefore, we expect the related parties, in this case the special committee and the House of Representatives, to pay particular attention to these weak points in the revised counterterrorism law," Tito said in Yogyakarta on Saturday (06/08).
According to Tito, among those weaknesses are missing details on methods to prevent terrorism, and a rehabilitation process for convicted terrorists after completion of their prison sentences.
"Aside from that, the law also does not accommodate the Amaliyah and Islamic State issues, despite the fact that many Indonesians go to foreign countries to deepen their knowledge of bearing arms and jihad," Tito said, referring to the self-proclaimed term used by the top IS figure in Indonesia, Aman Abdurrahman, for his group and subsidiary networks.
Tito added that the existing counterterrorism law also needs the inclusion of clauses on the protection of human rights, as greater powers being accorded by the revised law may also increase the likelihood of those powers being abused.
He requested all related parties to pay more attention to these issues and to consider addressing them in the revised law.
"Law No. 15/2003 was made following Regulation in Lieu of Law No. 1/2002, whereas the law was officiated due to foreign and domestic pressures after the Bali bombing tragedy in 2002," Tito explained.
The general said he also expected those involved in the law revision process to take into account current developments related to terrorism and radicalism.
Tags: Keywords: