Subject: JP: Gov't set to repeal subversion law
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 08:56:48 +0000
From: Tapol <plovers@gn.apc.org>Received from Joyo
Jakarta Post Monday, January 11, 1999
Gov't set to repeal subversion law
JAKARTA (JP): The government is scheduled to repeal the Subversion Law next week in
response to fierce public criticism and in order to bring the Criminal Code into
accordance with the recently approved anti-torture convention.
Antara quoted Romli Atmasasmita, the director general for laws and legislation at the
Ministry of Justice as saying in Bandung on Saturday that the move was the government's
response to strong public protests of the subversion law, which when applied, often
trampled on human rights.
Romli was speaking at the launch of the book titled Thoughts on Laws on Entering the
21st Century which contains 39 works by legal experts and analysts.
He told a audience of law experts, including former foreign minister Mochtar
Kusumaatmadja and Sri Soemantri Martosoewignjo, that under the New Order regime in
particular, the mere suspicion of subversive activities was enough to lead to detention
for more than one year.
Romli, who is also a criminal law expert at Padjadjaran University, said the practice
was a gross violation human rights.
The repeal of the subversion law, he said, is also associated with the government's
approval of the Anti-Torture Convention.
In anticipation of its implementation, he said, the government was also revising the
criminal code in accordance with the convention.
Next week, the government will also place on the House of Representatives' agenda bills
on a clean government free from collusion, corruption and nepotism; human rights;
arbitration; consumer protection and a revision of the bankruptcy law.
Also next week, Romli added, the Ministry of Justice is scheduled to submit a
presidential decree to the State Secretariat on the establishment of a commission to audit
the wealth of government officials.
Comprising government officials and members of the public, the commission will be
installed by and be accountable to the President. It will also answer to both to the State
Audit Board and the House of Representatives.
Romli said that by virtue of the decree, the commission will be authorized to audit the
wealth of the President Cabinet members, legislators and governors, before, during and
after their respective terms of office.
He added that the current Development Reform Cabinet which only had one year to carry
out its programs, had been working on 44 draft laws 80 percent of which were initiated and
drawn up by the Ministry of Justice at a cost of Rp 11 billion in the 1999/2000 fiscal
year. Among these bills was one dealing . with the establishment of a militia and one
regulating the 1999 general election and political parties.
Under the political parties bill, he added, the parties will be required to report to
and register with the Ministry of Justice rather than with the General Election Institute
or the Ministry of Home Affairs as was the practice in the past. (swe)
Paul Barber TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, 25 Plovers Way, Alton
Hampshire GU34 2JJ Tel/Fax: 1420 80153 Email: plovers@gn.apc.org Defending victims of
oppression in Indonesia, East Timor, West Papua and Aceh, 1973-1998
Back to January Menu
Main Postings Menu
Postings of Human Rights Violations in Timor |
