Draconian Ormas law will also target communist groups: Government

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Detik News – October 30, 2017
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Presidental chief of staff Teten Masduki - October 30, 2017 (Detik)
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Presidental chief of staff Teten Masduki - October 30, 2017 (Detik)
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Bagus Prihantoro Nugroho, Jakarta – The recently enacted Law on Social Organisations (UU Ormas), which was previously the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2/2017 (Perppu Ormas), was the subject of a discussion between President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and mass media editors.

During the meeting it was asserted that the UU Ormas will also target leftist groups.

“This UU will also target communism”, said Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki after attending the meeting with Jokowi at the State Place on Jl. Jl Veteran in Central Jakarta on Monday October 30.

The government, said Masduki, is open to suggestions if there are to be revisions to the law, particularly with regard to the articles on criminal prosecution.

“Yes it may be revised after being enacted into law because there were several conditions [set by some political parties] particularly on the criminal prosecution of people who are involved in social organisations that are deemed to be against [the state ideology of] Pancasila”, said Masduki.

Masduki did not say if there were any proposals from the mass media editors to revise the UU Ormas, adding that the discussion earlier in the afternoon did not cover the issue.

The Perppu Ormas was enacted into law by the House of Representatives (DPR) on October 24. Three political party factions however who accepted the Perppu asked that revisions be made to the law.

The Democrat Party has even prepared an academic paper on the proposed revisions to the law which they plan to submit to the government tomorrow. (bpn/idh)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Teten: UU Ormas Juga Menyasar ke Kelompok Komunis.]

Source: https://news.detik.com/berita/d-3706467/teten-uu-ormas-juga-menyasar-ke-kelompok-komunis

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