Speakers of People’s Consultative Assembly and House of Representatives Agree to Revise Terrorism Law

Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly responding the journalists’ questions at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (19/1) afternoon

The Government’s intention, as delivered by President Joko Widodo, to revise Law Number 15 of 2003 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 on Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism got a positive respond from the Speaker of People’s Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia (MPR RI) Zulkifli Hasan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) Ade Komarudin. The revision will be focused on preventive actions.

“It is a common agreement because revision of law on terrorism is important. What is the point of the revision? It is about prevention. Those people have trained to make a terror. There is no regulation that regulates it. That’s what the police asked,” Zulkifli said to the journalists after President’s consultation meeting with the heads of government institutions, at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (19/1) afternoon.

Zulkifli added that a legal basis is needed to punish the people who flee overseas. According to him, there should be an article in the Law that regulates and prevents terrorism trainings. In addition, the Law must also have an article about people who flee overseas and an article about conspiracy.

 “For the Indonesians who flee overseas, for example to Syria, there is no legal basis. That is why the revision is needed,” Zulkifli said.

However, the Speaker of MPR RI reminded that the revision of Law on Terrorism needs a long time, whereas the issuance of a Government Regulation in lieu of Law (Perppu) needs shorter time. Thus, if it is urgent, Zulkifli will suggest to issue a Perppu that later will be approved by the DPR.

The Government’s Initiative

The same thought was also delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) Ade Komarudin who agreed the revision of Law Number 15 of 2003 on the Stipulation of Government Regulation in lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 on Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism.

 “However, we also explained that a revision needs time and a lot of procedures,” he said, at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Tuesday (19/1) afternoon.

According to Ade, the articles that are proposed should be from the Government. Ade suggested, if the revision need time, whereas it is urgent, it is better to issue a Perppu first.

When Ade was asked whether Law on Terrorism will be revised or not, Ade asserted that it has not been decided yet. “It is what I said before. There should be a preliminary step and meeting. Everything must be analyzed in details and then the basic principles will be decided,” he said. (FID/ES)(MMB/YM/Naster)