Jakarta – A human rights watchdog Imparsial says the national security bill currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives has the potential to authorize the president to misuse his power.

"There are ambiguous terms in article 17 paragraphs 3 and 4 of the bill, concerning actual and potential threats," Imparsial program director Al Araf said Sunday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

"These articles potentially allow the president to abuse his power because only the president has the right to determine the 'threat' through a presidential decree."

Al Araf added that the activities of students, laborers, farmers and the press could be perceived as actual and potential threats by the president and would therefore be prone to repressive crackdowns.

The bill also would allow the military and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) to make arrests and wiretap communications, Al Araf said, warning that it could see a repressive political regime returning to Indonesia. (rpt)