Ezra Sihite – Chances for the controversial national security bill to pass anytime soon look slim after the government's coalition partners appeared to withdraw their support in the legislature.
Syarief Hasan, a senior Democratic Party official and coalition secretary, said previously that coalition parties agreed that the security bill was "important for the protection of the country."
But Golkar Party politician Yoris Raweyai said the House Special Committee (Pansus) deliberating the bill would likely reject the draft proposed by the government because key demands had not been incorporated.
The coalition comprises the Democratic Party, the Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB).
"Pansus [and] especially Golkar think the draft submitted by the government is very weak," Yoris said on Tuesday.
Students and human rights activists have criticized the bill, which would grant the military more power even though it has been accused of serious human rights violations.
Critics have also called the bill "a step backward" and "a threat to democracy," arguing it return Indonesia to the days of former President Suharto, when the nation was effectively under military rule.
Other critics have objected to the bill's granting of exclusive rights to some government agencies to conduct arrests and wire-tap phone conversations.
Yoris said the government should first fix the draft bill to "accommodate people's demands."
Even the opposition People's Conscience Party (Hanura), founded by retired armed forces commander Gen. Wiranto, has opposed the bill, saying that it "inhibits civil rights."
Hanura politician Syarifuddin Sudding, who is also a member of Pansus, said the House gave the government a chance to change the draft legislation, but it was returned without any revisions. "[The resubmission] makes people wonder why the government was so persistent [with the original draft]," he said.
The bill sought to provide legal grounds for military activity and align it with existing laws on natural disasters, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), National Police, state intelligence agencies and social conflict handling.
"There is not a single explanation of how the TNI is allowed to take action in a conflict," Syarifuddin said.
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the government was open to suggestions and accepted criticism. "If we need to make an adjustment [to] perfect [the draft], we have no problem with that. This is only the first draft so if we need to synchronize, we are ready," Purnomo said.
He dismissed criticism that the bill would pave the way for action similar to that that occurred under Suharto's New Order regime. "It is not true that the draft aims to establish TNI supremacy. TNI does not want to [again] be involved in politics or government," he said.
But Purnomo argued that military roles need to be expanded to cope with growing national security threats. "The threats now are more complex and involve non-military powers. The risks are higher and uncertain," the minister said.
Purnomo's deputy, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, has been advocating the bill to the government's coalition partners inside the legislature, prompting concerns from non-coalition factions.
Gede Pasek Suardika, chairman of House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal matters, said there was nothing wrong with Sjafrie visiting factions at the legislature.