President Asked to Issue National Security Bill Declaration
Tuesday, 02 January, 2007 | 16:27 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: An activist of Pro Patria, Hari Prihatono, asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to emphasize the importance of the National Security Bill. “The President must clarify the matter, about what is national security, and also the danger categorized as a threat to national security,” said Hari yesterday (1/1).

The National Security Bill became a hot issue. This is because the bill will arrange the position of the police institution. The bill will not let the police stand as an independent institution, but under a department.

Before, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Sutanto rejected the notion if the institution led by him were to be placed under a department. The reason is, placement under a department will instead erradicate Polri’s independence. “We want the police to be independent in upholding law,” said Sutanto in mid-December.

The matter that is still disturbing, said Hari, is actually the one that needs to be solved. “This is a cold war between the Defense Minister and Police Chief, regarding the bill,” said Hari.

According to Hari, one of the impediments of the bill is each institution’s ego. “There has not yet been any willingness about who will be the director in certain areas,” he said.

The other impediment, according to Hari, is that an authorized civilian institution is regarded as not wise enough to implement authority in certain cases. Due to this, the institution asks for help from military institutions.

The National Security Bill will only emphasize an institution’s duty, the problems to face and how to overcome them.

Currently the bill is in the discussion process. The government wants the bill to be included in the national legislation program. However, the fact is in the national legislation program, the bill was not included in the list to be discussed by the government and the House of Representatives (DPR).

Dian Yuliastuti