Intelligence body will have offices in regencies<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) will have much broader
\npowers soon after President Megawati Soekarnoputri signs a decree
\nauthorizing the agency to open offices in all provinces,
\nregencies and municipalities across the country, creating new
\nfears of repression.<\/p>\n
State Minister for Administrative Reforms Feisal Tamim
\ndisclosed on Wednesday that the President had agreed with the
\nexpansion plan.<\/p>\n
An official at the State Secretariat told The Jakarta Post
\nthat until now no draft decree had been submitted to the office
\nfor further discussion.<\/p>\n
"We reported the plan to the President and there will be a
\npresidential decree for the establishment of these offices,"
\nFeisal said after meeting with the President along with BIN chief
\nLt. Gen. (ret.) Hendropriyono at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Hendropriyono himself refused to talk to journalists.<\/p>\n
Feisal said that each of BIN's representative offices would be
\nunder the auspices of both BIN headquarters and the regional
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
"For example at the provincial level the governor will also
\nsupervise the office, while at the municipal level it will be
\ncoordinated by regents or the mayor," Feisal added.<\/p>\n
The minister did not say whether the regional BIN offices will
\nbe directly under the authority of the local government. But with
\nthe newly expanded authority, BIN will reduce its dependence on
\nthe police and the TNI, which have offices up to the district
\nlevel.<\/p>\n
The plan to establish BIN regional offices had been discussed
\nsince late 2002, following the Oct. 12 Bali bombing that killed
\nmore than 200 people. At that time there was strong criticism of
\nthe weak coordination among state intelligence agencies,
\nespecially between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National
\nPolice.<\/p>\n
Megawati then issued Presidential Instruction No. 5\/2002,
\nnaming BIN as the sole coordinator for all intelligence
\nactivities in the country.<\/p>\n
With the presidential decree the Indonesian Military (TNI),
\nNational Police and Attorney General's Office should report their
\nfindings to BIN.<\/p>\n
The latest move to establish regional offices has created
\nfears of a possible return to repressive and abusive practices.
\nDuring Soeharto's era, one of the intelligence agency's main
\nactivities was to spy on citizens. Intelligence officers also
\noften abused their power to enrich themselves.<\/p>\n
The National Coordinating Intelligence Agency (BAKIN), one of
\nthe country's intelligence units was used to detect the spread of
\ncommunism and the infiltration of foreign powers.<\/p>\n
Then president Abdurrahman Wahid scrapped the authority for
\nBIN to coordinate intelligence activities in 2000, arguing that
\npeople did not need such tight surveillance.<\/p>\n
However, the recent terror attacks have given new reason for
\nBIN to regain its role in coordinating intelligence activities in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Many parties, including the House of Representatives have
\nwarned that the expansion of intelligence operations would
\nprovoke public anxiety.<\/p>\n
HISTORY OF BIN
\n----------------------------------------------------------------
\nNo. Time Decision
\n-----------------------------------------------------------------
\n1. 1980s President Soeharto establishes the<\/p>\n
National Coordinating Intelligence Agency<\/p>\n
(BAKIN)
\n2. October 2000 President Abdurrahman Wahid revamps<\/p>\n
BAKIN and changes its name to State<\/p>\n
Intelligence Agency (BIN) scrapping its<\/p>\n
coordinating authority<\/p>\n
3. October 2002 President Megawati Soekarnoputri issues<\/p>\n
Presidential Decree No.5\/2002 that reinstates<\/p>\n
BIN's coordinating power<\/p>\n
4. 2003 Megawati is slated to sign presidential decree<\/p>\n
to establish BIN regional offices in the<\/p>\n
country<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/intelligence-body-will-have-offices-in-regencies-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }