Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – On the heels of terror acts committed throughout the country, the nation's largest Muslim organization is calling for stronger antiterror legislation that provides intelligence officials with broader authority, a proposal that has been strongly opposed by human rights activists and rejected by lawmakers.

Said Aqil Siradj, the chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said the existing laws were not powerful enough to curb widespread terrorist groups. "If we always wait until bombs go off, this country could explode," Said was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

He said radicalism in the country had reached "the emergency level. Like a red light, it must stop."

Said said he believed the country's security officials and intelligence officers had adequate information on existing terrorist groups across the country. "But the laws prevent them from conducting early action," he said, adding that to curb terrorism in the country the government must be able to act against people who spawned hatred and triggered terrorism.

For that reason, Said expressed his approval on granting the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) the authority to arrest and interrogate individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism acts.

"This is OK, as long as [the authority] is not abused and violates human rights. Those not proven guilty must be released immediately," he said. BIN's authority to arrest and interrogate is a contentious issue in the deliberation of the intelligence bill.

The government said such an authority was needed as an "early preventive and anticipative measure" to counter "terrorism, separatism, espionage, subversion, sabotage and other kinds of efforts deemed threats to national security".

Articles proposed by the government would also enable intelligence officers to conduct "intensive questioning" for seven days at the longest.

Members of the House of Representatives' Commission I on foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence, however, insisted that the power to arrest and interrogate "would be prone to misuse that would lead to human rights abuse".

Muhammad Najib of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said the recent bombings and terror acts would not necessarily affect the bill's deliberation. "This bill is expected to be a law that lasts for 20 or 30 years. We cannot construct it only based on the recent terror acts," he told The Jakarta Post.

Najib reiterated that giving intelligence the power to arrest and interrogate would be too much. "Arresting is a job for the police. This bill needs to help create a comprehensive mechanism and more harmonious framework between all related institutions," he said.

T.B. Hasanuddin from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) shared Najib's opinion. "The essential duty of the BIN is not to arrest or interrogate. Its role is to competently identify terrorist groups and engage in early detection. It is important this is improved," he told the Post.

Human rights activists have also repeatedly voiced their objection to the proposal citing fears of repetition of massive repressive practices of the New Order era. Said said he understood the activists' concerns. "But that can be 'used' by radical and anti-democracy groups." (mim)