Legislator Rejects Idea To Set Up Prison Exclusively For Terrorists

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- Arsul Sani, a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR), has opposed the government's plan to set up a prison exclusively for terrorists.

"I believe that a special prison for terrorists is not the solution for such individuals to seek repentance and stop engaging in acts in terror," Sani stated here, Wednesday.

Such a prison will only become a location for such people to get together and strengthen solidarity among themselves, he remarked.

The politician from the United Development Party (PPP) cited the example of the US-run Guantanamo Bay prison located in Cuba, which has failed to deradicalize terrorists.

Nasir Djamil, another lawmaker from Commission III, also disagreed with the idea of setting up a prison only for terrorists.

He has suggested that terrorists should be placed in existing prisons but in separate cells.

Djamil affirmed that the spread of radicalism could be prevented by carrying out equitable and fair development in the regions of eastern Indonesia and effective intelligence gathering.

"So, there are several aspects we need to take into account while discussing terrorism and not only deradicalization. Using repressive means to fight radicalism would only increase their number," he pointed out.

Coordination among several institutions is needed to guide and deradicalize terrorists in prisons, instead of leaving the onus only on the justice and human rights ministry, he added. (WDY)