It is important to effect a revision in Law No. 9/2013 on the prevention and eradication of terrorism in order to give greater authority to the countrys security agents to prevent acts of terror.
Therefore, the heads of state institutions share a common view with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) regarding the need to revise the law on terrorism prevention and funding.
President Jokowi revealed various parties have expressed a common view on the need to revise the rules regarding handling the menace of terrorism in the country.
"Essentially, we share a common view about the importance of revising existing regulations," President Jokwo remarked at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.
The head of state noted that the process to effect a revision in the regulations, especially in case of the law on terrorism, is still continuing.
"It is still in the process. We will consult with the House of Representatives. We did so today with the chairman of Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), and undertook the same exercise with the state agencies yesterday," said Jokowi.
The president stated that several alternatives can be pursued when it comes to revise rules related to terrorism.
"There can be a revision in the law on terrorism, or bring in a government regulation in lieu of law, or making an altogether new law on the prevention of terrorism," Jokowi noted.
President Jokowi added that there is an urgent need for a legal framework to enable the police to act against acts of terrorism.
"At this time, the problem should be solved by providing a clear legal framework to the police so that they can act boldly in the field to combat terrorism," Jokowi noted.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has expressed the hope that the House of Representatives (DPR) will come to an agreement on revision of the law on terrorism to give greater authority to the countrys security agents to prevent terror acts.
"Currently, the National Body in charge of Terrorism (BNPT) is harmonizing the law and we hope the DPR comes up with a positive response," Panjaitan remarked here last Friday.
He said under the present law, security agents could not do much to prevent acts of terror as they are not even allowed to detain suspects if they lack enough evidence.
Panajaitans statement came after the terror attack in Jakarta on Thursday, which left seven people dead, including all five attackers and two civilians.
Some lawmakers and observers accused the security agencies of being caught unaware while some praise did come from international communities for swift handling by the security agencies who put an end to the drama in less than four hours.
Even the majority of the Indonesian people, as represented by the mass organizations including religious organizations, lauded the efficiency and effectiveness of the police in restoring security in the capital city.
Quick handling of the terror attack at Jakartas most expensive district of Jalan Thamrin was followed by the arrests of scores of ISIS suspects in a number of areas that very afternoon and also on Friday.
Panjaitan said one important point in the proposed revision is to give powers to security agents to arrest suspects as a preventive measure.
He said security agencies already knew in December that there would be terror attacks ahead of Christmas and New Year eve but evidence was not enough to take action to prevent it.
Earlier, BNPT chief Saud Usman Nasution said the draft revision of the law on terrorism has been nearly wrapped up.
"We hope the law would now be able to deal with a number of things that had so far remained legally untouchable," Saud said.
He said revisions are also proposed in case of a number of regulations on prevention and rehabilitation.
Police said some of the attackers were from among more than 100 Indonesians who returned from Syria where they had joined the ISIS.
National Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti has also asked for the revision of Law No. 9/2013 on the prevention and eradication of terrorism.
"The current law on terrorism does not allow us to apprehend people who are planning acts of terror. They cannot be detained," Haiti remarked here on Tuesday.
According to him, the police needs a strict and strong law to combat terrorism and anticipate activities of certain radical groups.
He noted that the Jakarta bombings should provide momentum to understand the threat of terrorism.
"The police is there to combat acts of terror and violence, not religion," he affirmed.
In the meantime, MPR Chairman Zulkifli Hasan stated here on Tuesday that almost all heads of state institutions believed that Law Number 15 of 2003 on terrorism eradication and Law Number 9 of 2013 on terrorism prevention and funding need to be revised.
He said the laws did not as yet encompass terrorist training or citizens going abroad to participate in terrorist activities.
"No regulation is yet in place to punish people who have undergone training for conducting terrorist activities. To this end, the police have put forth a demand. There is no law in place for Indonesian citizens who had gone abroad and involved in terrorist activities, such as in Syria and other countries. This also needs to be addressed," he affirmed.
The MPR chairman remarked that the president could implement a regulation in lieu of a law, locally known as Perppu, if he believed that the process to revise the law was turning out to be too lengthy.(*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
