Jakarta. Activists have blasted lawmakers for deliberating behind closed doors plans to implement longer detention of terrorism suspects, saying there are no grounds to do so amid heightened rights concerns involving law enforcement.

The hearing on Wednesday (14/06) involving government officials was the latest of several on the revisions to the Antiterrorism Law that were closed to the public since earlier this year.

Longer detention of terrorism suspects is a cause for concern and lawmakers should have not hampered public scrutiny with the closed-door hearing, said Erasmus Napitupulu of the Jakarta-based Institute for Criminal Justice Reform.

"We understand detention is one of the most crucial tools for investigators, but it doesn't mean the deliberation can be considered too sensitive that it should be closed to the public," Erasmus said in a statement on Wednesday.

Government officials have earlier proposed detention periods for terrorism suspects of up to 450 days, compared with the 180 days currently allowed under the 2003 law.

"Thus, the deliberation should have been open to the public so that a conclusion can later be made on why longer detention is needed," Erasmus said. He said the planned longer detention periods were "excessive."