Lawmakers Submit Problem List on Counterterrorism Bill
Jakarta. Lawmakers on Wednesday (14/12) handed over to the government a problem list concerning the counterterrorism bill aimed at giving the authorities more power to counter terrorist threats.
Officials and lawmakers will soon discuss the new bill.
Wednesday's move ended months of deliberations in the House of Representatives' special committee, which had invited various parties and experts to submit their comments.
Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, who received the list, expressed appreciation for the committee's input.
"We welcome the fruit of the special committee's efforts to polish the bill. We are ready to deliberate it together with the House to ensure that the enacted bill will be able to eradicate terrorism," he said.
The bill allows greater involvement by the military in counterterrorism operations and introduces tougher measures against terrorism suspects, including longer detention and cancelation of citizenship.
"We want the bill to be more focused on prevention. Countering terrorism has been too dependent on enforcement," committee chairman Muhammad Syafi'i said.
The bill will be enacted by the legislature during a plenary meeting in April.
The government's decision to revise the counterterrorism bill was made in January, after an Islamic State-linked attack in Jakarta increased concerns over terrorist threats in the country.
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