BIN seeks more teeth in dealing with terrorism<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) demanded on Friday that it be
\ngiven extra powers that would enable it to carry out crucial
\ntasks to prevent terrorist attacks throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Deputy chief of BIN As'at Said stated that BIN should be given
\nmore authority, than the current level that only includes
\nauthentication of preliminary reports from investigators.<\/p>\n
"Concerning preventive action, the intelligence officers,
\nespecially BIN, have not been given sufficient power," As'at told
\na hearing of the House committee deliberating the terrorism bill
\non Friday.<\/p>\n
Also at the hearing were Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto and Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia
\nAnwar Nasution.<\/p>\n
Endriartono, who also briefed legislators on terrorism,
\nconcurred with As'at, saying that state security forces needed
\nmore powers to combat terrorism.<\/p>\n
According to As'at, extra authority was necessary to prevent
\nterror acts by arresting suspected terrorists before they can
\nblow something up or kill loads of people. BIN, he added, could
\nbe allowed to detain some suspects for four days for questioning
\nto assist the investigation.<\/p>\n
Article 26 of the terrorism bill stipulates (in an attempt) to
\nobtain enough evidence before starting an investigation, that the
\nstate investigators could use reports provided by intelligence
\nofficials that have been authenticated by the head of BIN.<\/p>\n
In the explanatory section of that article, the evidence
\nrefers to that with which someone could be suspected of
\ncommitting a terrorist act.<\/p>\n
The article will amend the intelligence body's authorities
\nstipulated in the government regulation in lieu of a law on
\nantiterrorism, which remains the current standard. The regulation
\nhas been widely criticized, by those who feel they could be
\ntargeted, as an opportunity for rights violations.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, which was presided over by committee
\nchairman Ibrahim Ambong of Golkar, Endriartono acknowledged that
\nthere were fears of a possible revival of an authoritarian regime
\nshould the state security apparatus be given extra power.<\/p>\n
The general, however, assured such a condition would not
\nhappen.<\/p>\n
"Situations have changed. If the current government reinstates
\nauthoritarianism, it will certainly be opposed by protesters,"
\nEndriartono said.<\/p>\n
A number of legislators said they would reject the demand to
\ngive BIN more power.<\/p>\n
J.E. Sahetapy and Trimedya Panjaitan from the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) warned that the
\npower given to BIN would upset the judicial system.<\/p>\n
"Investigative powers given to BIN will create problems with
\nthe criminal judicial system. The right to investigate should be
\nin the hands of the police," Sahetapy said.<\/p>\n
Trimedya added that the power of investigation given to BIN
\nwould overlap with the police authority. "That would be a
\nsetback," he said.<\/p>\n
Previously, criminal law expert Loebby Loeqman also rejected
\nany article, which gives BIN power over judicial matters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile deputy BI Governor Anwar Nasution spoke about the
\nneed for an article which deals with freezing bank accounts of
\nterrorists.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bin-seeks-more-teeth-in-dealing-with-terrorism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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