Poor intelligence blamed for bomb attack<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The bombing in the driveway of JW Marriott hotel in South Jakarta
\nreveals the country's poor intelligence and lack of seriousness
\nin anticipating possible terror attacks in the country, observers
\nsay.<\/p>\n
Director of Police Watch Rashid N. Lubis said on Wednesday
\nthat the police, which are supposed to play an important part in
\nmaintaining security, including anticipating terrorist attacks,
\nhad not improved their intelligence gathering skills following
\ntheir separation from the Indonesia Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
"Before the separation, the military monopolized intelligence
\ngathering and processing.<\/p>\n
The separation has downgraded both institutions' capabilities,
\nbut the police suffered the most as they are unskilled in terms
\nof intelligence work," Rashid said.<\/p>\n
Under the New Order regime, Indonesia's intelligence
\noperations thrived. The state intelligence apparatus was a
\npowerful institution that could make arrests without a court
\norder.<\/p>\n
The government currently has other intelligence institutions
\nsuch as the National Intelligence Body (BIN) and intelligence
\nunits associated with the immigration office and the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office.<\/p>\n
The Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs set up a 48-member special antiterrorism desk
\nlate last year linking the police, military, and several
\nministries to coordinate the country's efforts to combat
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
The unit is also authorized to coordinate intelligence work,
\npursue international cooperation, law enforcement, and
\ninformation and communications.<\/p>\n
"It is apparent that relations are not good, in terms of
\nexchange of evidence, among the institutions," Rashid said.<\/p>\n
According to Rashid, the police failed to develop intelligence
\nskills as they preferred to focus on improving their services to
\nthe public rather than improving their intelligence gathering
\nskills.<\/p>\n
"Developing their services to the public is a must, but the
\npolice must not ignore the need to improve their intelligence
\nwork," Rashid said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Rizal Sukma of the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS) said the security authorities had
\nbeen "very weak" in imposing mechanisms to prevent possible
\nterror attacks.<\/p>\n
"It is impossible to prevent a terror attack as it is hard to
\nknow where, when and how it will happen. But we can reduce the
\nopportunities for terrorists to carry out terrorist acts," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Intelligence officers, Rizal said, must be able to control the
\nstorage, trade, and use of firearms and explosive materials in
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
They must also monitor the gateways to the country as well as
\npossible groups, within or outside Indonesia, that have the
\ncapability to conduct terrorist attacks, he said.<\/p>\n
"However, what makes me worried the most is that security
\nofficers have failed to involve people in early-warning measures
\nagainst terrorism," Rizal said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's geographic and social conditions provide a safe
\nhaven for terrorism. Several observers have repeatedly warned the
\ngovernment over the weaknesses of state intelligence bodies and
\nlaw enforcers in anticipating terror attacks in the country.<\/p>\n
The government has issued legislation to combat terrorism this
\nyear, which started soon after the 2002 Bali bombing, giving
\nsecurity officers extra authority to move against suspected
\nterrorists.<\/p>\n
The legislation has been used to capture Bali bombers, most of
\nwhom are currently on trial. Some of them, allegedly high ranking
\nofficials within the Jamaah Islamiyah terror network, however,
\nremain at large.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-intelligence-blamed-for-bomb-attack-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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