REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A leading lawmaker said the Parliament would not likely consider proposing for greater authority of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).

Chairman of the Commission I of the House of Representatives Mahfuz Siddiq said it would be difficult to include BIN's proposal to give it authority to summon (for investigations) suspected terrorists, separatists and radicals in the draft revision of the Law No.15 of 2003 on eradication of terrorism.

"If the government itself did not include the proposal in the draft revision, the possibility would be slim or the Parliament to back up the proposal," Siddiq said here on Tuesday.

The draft revision is proposed by the government, therefore, the government is the one that should include the proposal in the draft revision, he pointed out.

He said the Commission I might consider the BIN's proposal to increase the effectiveness of the drive to eliminate terrorism, separatism and radicalism.

He did question the reasons for not including the proposal in the draft revision submitted by the government.

"Commission I of the Parliament is in a good position to consider approval for the BIN's proposal," he repeated.

He said the authority to summon suspects by BIN is for early detection to prevent action of terrorism, separatism and radicalism.

He said the authority asked by BIN is not part of judiciary that the Commission I could consider approving it.

"This is a BIN's proposal and if it is already fully studied, it should be accommodated by the government in the draft revision," the politician of the Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said.

Mahfud said he was not worried if the authority to summon suspects is granted to BIN as observing human rights has been a working principle for BIN already regulated in the Law.

Human Rights Commission has been the strongest opposition to giving the authority to BIN.

In addition, as for the BIN's performance accountability, there is external watchdog team of the Parliament.

"There should be no cause for too much concern if the summoning is intended only to dig up information as an early preventive measure," he said.

Earlier, BIN's chief former Jakarta governor retired army Lt.Gen. Sutiyoso said BIN needed additional authority to summon suspected terrorists, separatists and radicals.

The lawmaker of the Commission I understood why BIN needs additional authority, Sutiyoso told reporters after a working meeting with the Commission I here on Monday.

The proposed additional authority is not to arrest but only to summon suspects, he said.

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