Analysts blame debacle on intelligence failure<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Noted analysts blamed Saturday's bombings in Bali and Manado
\nin North Sulawesi on Indonesia's lack of seriousness as well as
\nits poor intelligence work in dealing with terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"State intelligence and law enforcers failed to anticipate
\nseveral terror acts in the country, despite the fact that
\nIndonesia's geographic and social conditions provide a safe haven
\nfor terrorism,\" military observer Kusnanto Anggoro said
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
He also criticized several state officials and politicians who
\nhad disregarded the presence of possible terrorist networks in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
\"The denial reflects the government's inability to cope with
\nterrorism,\" he told reporters at a press conference held by
\nProPatria, a working group for reform in the security sector.<\/p>\n
The group called on the government to boost professionalism
\nand accountability within the state intelligence apparatus in
\norder to cope with terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"Strengthening state intelligence is a must, but it must not
\npave the way for Indonesia's military to return to politics as in
\nthe New Order regime,\" Kusnanto asserted.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's intelligence thrived under the New Order, wherein
\nthe state intelligence apparatus was a powerful, and effective,
\ninstitution that could make arrests without a court order.<\/p>\n
Apart from that, the military, then called the Indonesian
\nArmed Forces (ABRI), monopolized intelligence gathering and
\nprocessing. Today, the military shares the responsibility with
\nthe Indonesian Police, which used to be part of ABRI. This shared
\nburden, which has downgraded the military's capabilities and
\nfinancial resources, has led to a rivalry between the two
\ninstitutions.<\/p>\n
Researcher Rifki Muna added that state intelligence must
\ncooperate with international and regional intelligence to share
\ninformation as a preventive measure against possible terror acts.<\/p>\n
\"As part of the international community, Indonesia may ask
\nother country's to assist us in combating terrorism, which is a
\nglobal phenomenon with international links. It's not only our
\nproblem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, Rifki said that the government should only use
\nintelligence information to investigate potential terror acts.<\/p>\n
\"We couldn't send someone or a group to jail with that kind of
\ninformation (international intelligence) until law enforcers find
\nevidence of a crime, especially since we are striving for
\ndemocracy,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Fajrul Falaakh of the National Law Commission (KHN)
\nand Rudy Satrio of the University of Indonesia urged the
\ngovernment to utilize appropriate laws to address terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"The government must employ the country's current instruments
\nand institutions of the law while the antiterrorism bill is still
\nbeing deliberated upon. Law enforcers could actually use the
\ncriminal code or laws here to charge suspected terrorists,\" Rudy
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Fajrul suggested that the government ratify several
\ninternational conventions on terrorism or issue an executive
\norder as a temporary move before the passage of the antiterrorism
\nbill.<\/p>\n
\"Terrorism is against humanity and negates universal morality.
\nTherefore, there is no other way for the government but to take
\nfirm action against terrorism,\" Kusnanto said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/analysts-blame-debacle-on-intelligence-failure-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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