Indonesia to Tighten Terror Law

Indonesia said yesterday it was to strengthen its draconian anti-terrorism laws after last week's bombing of a Jakarta hotel, as Australia and the US warned of a "catastrophic" attack in the near future.

The Indonesian security minister, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said a cabinet committee would assess how to toughen the law passed in the wake of last year's Bali bombing which allows detention for up to six months without charge based on intelligence reports.

Mr Yudhoyono denied that the revisions would see Indonesia merely copying neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia, whose internal security acts permit indefinite detention without charge.

Solahudin Wahid, of the national human rights commission, said there was no need for new laws.

"If the security forces were more professional and implemented the powers they already have, there would be no need for this debate," he said.

Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said yesterday that intelligence officials had obtained information on "possible attacks on international hotels in Jakarta and shopping centres used by westerners".

Hours earlier his spy chief, Dennis Richardson, gave an even more dire warning about the threat to Australia and its regional interests.