Ridwan Max Sijabat and Rendi Akhmad Witular, Jakarta – The government and legislators have agreed to revise the 1985 law on the freedom to organize to allow the disbanding of hard-line organizations deemed to have disrupted security and public order, the home minister said Friday.

"We will insert a new article into the law to empower the government to take supervisory actions, including the dissolving of organizations disturbing security and order," M. Ma'ruf said.

In its present form, the law does not allow the government to disband mass groups or non-governmental organizations involved in violence.

The move comes as the government is facing mounting pressure from moderate Muslim leaders and activists to take stern actions against hard-line groups accused of using violence in furthering their aims.

Ma'ruf said the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) and Hizbut Tahrir were among the groups under government scrutiny.

"However, we will first deploy a persuasive approach. If it is ineffective, the government will take repressive actions against them." Asked if the move would contravene the Constitution that guarantees the freedom of association, Ma'ruf said people had the right to organize and express their opinions but were prohibited from using their organizations to attack others in the name of religion or to disrupt security.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who led a coordination meeting on security Thursday, said the government would take firm action against violent organizations. Vice President Jusuf Kalla reiterated Friday the government's pledge to get tough on hard-line groups.

"Any radicalism that leads to an act of destruction will be sternly punished and prevented because they are trying, or will try, to break the law. But we cannot act sternly against their radical ideas," he said.

"These groups can think radically, which is their right. We are not going to prevent that. We will act when they are violating the law or trying to hurt others."