"Din Minimi is categorized as a group involved (in a crime) following the implementation of President Regulation Number 22 of 2005 on General Amnesty and Abolition," Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I, TB Hasanuddin, said here on Monday.
He made the statement during a question and answer session at a joint meeting between House Commission I and III with the Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs, the national police chief, the Attorney General, the National Intelligence Agency and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
He said amnesty could not be given to those involved in Free Aceh Movements armed activities following the issuance of Government Regulation Number 22, 2005.
He said Din Minimi was certainly categorized as a person who did not obey the law and kept guns and was involved in crimes.
"I hope this will be used as a reference," he said.
House Commission III member Nasir Djamil said based on Presidential Decree Number 23 of 2005, no room was available for an armed group like the one led by Din Minimi to be given amnesty.
He said in March 2015, House Commission I and III held a hearing with the chiefs of the Iskandar Muda Military Command and Aceh Police Region and it was concluded that Din Minimi was a criminal group.
"At the time, we asked the police and the military to cooperate to crush the movement in the field," he said.
He said there were also calls from Aceh against granting amnesty to Din Minimi and the government had to be careful before deciding to do it.
He said peace must be preserved but the law must also be upheld.
House Commission I member Supiadin Aries Saputra has asked the government to reconsider its plan to grant amnesty, especially to Din Minimi, because if that was to happen, he feared it would trigger protests by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members.
He said following the Helsinki peace agreement, six GAM members had not been given an amnesty. Therefore, if Din Minimi was given such a relief, the apprehension was that it would trigger a protest.
"Din has sought amnesty but has forgotten that he has killed members of the Iskandar Muda Military Command and also possessed guns," he said.
He said based on the Helsinki agreement, GAM had to submit 840 arms but only 768 had been handed over.
Supiadin has asked the police to intensify a sweep against illegal arms lest another group like that of Din Minimi is formed.
House Commission III deputy chairman Benny K Harman, meanwhile, has raised concern over the governments plan to give an amnesty to political detainees in Papua, fearing that it would create a negative effect.
He said he feared that in the future, another group would indulge in similar violence and would then also ask for amnesty.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
