Subject: SCMP: Passing of 'fascist' security bill
will secure army role
Date: Sat, 25 Sep 1999 12:40:30 -0400South China Morning Post Thursday, September 23,
1999
INDONESIA
Passing of 'fascist' security bill will secure army role
VAUDINE ENGLAND in Jakarta
A controversial, military-sponsored security bill is expected to be become law today in
one of the final acts of Indonesia's Suharto-era Parliament. The bill is sponsored by
armed forces chief General Wiranto and his faction.
Despite growing opposition, it has reached the final plenary session, an indication of
the military's firm intention to remain central to political life.
Yesterday, more than 1,500 protesters scuffled outside Parliament with police, who
fired tear-gas and waded into the crowd. Dozens of protesters were injured and soldiers
were called in.
"If Parliament passes this bill, our country will be fascist," one protester
shouted to the crowd, made up mostly of students, some armed with iron bars and rattan
sticks.
In Surabaya, police moved in to break up a protest by about 500 students, injuring 19
students. More protests are expected today.
If passed, the law would allow the military to impose emergency rule where it sees fit.
It leaves unclear the issue of whether parliamentary approval would be needed.
Such emergency rule would allow for draconian search and seizure powers, curfews, media
blackouts and arbitrary arrests.
The bill has provoked outrage among students, reformists and opposition politicians.
But some deputies in Parliament appear ready to use their last 24 hours in office to
garner either payments or other rewards from military sponsors.
Opposition factions say the bill would wipe out most of the civil liberties regained
since the fall of former president Suharto.
"This bill was first drafted 10 years ago, so you can imagine how drastic and
authoritarian it would be," said Fajrul Falaakh, a chairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama
Muslim organisation.
The ability of the armed forces to bring the security bill so far forward sends a dark
message about the state of the reform movement.
Any assertion of outright military rule would face strong opposition across the
political spectrum, yet still the military must be accommodated.
"You need at least a working relationship with this military, whether you like it
or not," a Western analyst said.
This prominence of the military in politics is heightened by the failure of the armed
forces to prevent international peacekeepers in East Timor.
"You cannot force this military into a corner, it's too dangerous," the
analyst said.
This fear, of an embattled and humiliated army lashing out, is growing, especially as
the international community demands an accounting of the corpses in East Timor and the
holding of trials of those Indonesian generals and militia leaders deemed responsible.
Regardless, or because of, the international condemnation of the military, it is clear
the generals want to assert their perceived right to an important role in choosing a
president and maintaining him or her in power. The security bill is one part of their
insurance policy, designed to guard their pivotal place in defending national order and
stability.
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