Detainment 2 years without Charges?????

I was shocked when I read The Jakarta Post Headline "Alleged trrorists should be detained for 2 years" Tuesday, 01 September 2009

Detaining someone without charges is a serious breach of basic human rights, it also breaches the basis of our legal system which the "azas praduga tak bersalah" or presume innocent until proven guilty and contradictive to the fostering of a democracy. Even a seven day detainment without charges is already a stretching of that basis, let alone two years.

Is the government trying to emulate Bush Jr.'s policies?? Most of us didn't like his policies which was basically an overreaction to the 9/11 bombings. Are we going to have our own Guantanamo bay to hold people for two years without any charges? Why are we copying a policy which is basically similar to the Salem witch hunt where people were burned first before it was realized that they weren't witches?

Another bewildering policy is to detain people, who preached hatred, now where was this notion when certain people were bashing certain sects of a religion live on air? Or when people were bashing gays? Or bashing artists whose dances are arousing? And on the other end of the spectrum would someone be detained for vocally voicing their opinions in an oratory down Bunderan HI?

It would be sad day for our newly found democracy if that were to happen, mainly because by doing and implementing the above policies we are stooping to their levels and tactics of kidnapping someone and brainwashing them for terrorists acts, And those policies were brought on by fears which is exactly what they want us to do.

Terrorism wants us to falter in our beliefs in a free society, to have equal footings and grounds on many fronts. They want us to change the basis of our laws of "praduga Tak Bersalah" but most of all they want to diminish our beliefs in a democracy.

Hence, although I agree that the military should be involved their capacity should only be restricted to aiding the Police in apprehending dangerous and well armed suspects as the Police may not be fully equipped to deal with bomb wearing, Ak-47 wielding and bazooka carrying terrorists. Because if we give the military more power than that we would be right back to the New Order era which is another win for terrorism as it means our democracy is replaced with either a military junta or like the New Order we couldn't be free to voice our opinions.