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New Indonesian Security Law Suspended
The sweeping new security laws passed by the Indonesian Parliament on Thursday have been suspended following violent clashes on the streets of Jakarta in which at least four protestors and one policeman have died.
The climb-down by the Indonesian Military was accompanied by a statement from armed forces Chief General Wiranto saying that "half the people" did not understand the new law and a consultation would be undertaken.
This followed a decision from President B.J.Habibe not to sign the legislation into law.
Several opposition parties have said it is their intention to repeal the new law as a priority once the new Indonesian Parliament is sworn in.
Alastair Thompson
Scoop Publisher
Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.
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