Indonesia Intends to Amend Law to Facilitate Banning of Extremist Groups

The Indonesian government intends to amend the 2013 Law on Mass Organizations to simplify the process of banning groups it considers radical and threatening national security, a senior official at the Home Affairs Ministry said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to the official, the revision should be a preventive measure aimed at creating a proper legal basis to charge and prosecute those whose activity is illegal. The official recalled that the current version was too "time-consuming" in terms of dissolving an organization.

"In accordance with the current regulation, we must issue three warning letters before we proceed with complicated steps to disband [an organization]. At least one month is needed between the warning letters. It's too complicated," Director General of politics and general government at the Ministry of Home Affairs Soedarmo told reporters Tuesday, as quoted by Jakarta Globe newspaper.

Soedarmo did not specify when the amendments were likely to be submitted and sent to parliament for consideration.

The prospective revision was reportedly discussed in Jakarta on Tuesday by Chief Security Minister Wiranto, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Attorney General M. Prasetyo and State Intelligence Agency Chief Gen. Budi Gunawan.

The current version of the law imposes a set of obligations and bans on activities of the non-governmental organizations, though a number  of them are seen as vague by the human rights organizations.