Haeril Halim, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has instructed Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly to meet with House of Representatives leaders to speed up deliberation of amendments to the Terrorism Law.
Jokowi summoned Yasonna to the State Palace on Monday to brief him on the deliberation, which has been stalled on the roles of law enforcement bodies in counterterrorism.
"The process has been dragging [at the House]. We need to reach a common understanding on the issue in order to speed up the discussion of the law. It's been around one year now but it's nowhere near completed," Yasonna told reporters at the State Palace on Monday.
He said the recent growing protests against US President Donald Trump's controversial immigration policy could inspire domestic radical groups to carry out attacks in Indonesia.
"Don't let something happen first before we move to speed up the discussion of the law at the House," Yasonna said.
Yasonna said the House and the government were still discussing whether to expand the definition of terrorism in the revision of the law and whether to strengthen de-radicalization programs in the future. (wit)