'Poor intelligence work due to lack of coordination'<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The State Intelligence Body (BIN) has asked for more power in
\nthe war on terror, but an analyst on Friday suggested that
\ncoordination among the country's intelligence institutions was a
\nbetter solution to prevent terror attacks.<\/p>\n
BIN chairman Hendropriyono, who offered an apology to the
\nMarriott bombing victims, said late on Thursday that BIN wanted
\nthe power to act, not just to give an early warning to people.<\/p>\n
\"How can we prevent a certain action from taking place if we
\nknow a suspect but we cannot make an arrest,\" Hendro said.<\/p>\n
Without the power to make an arrest, BIN would be like a
\nGerman shepherd dog whose tail was held by its owner so that it
\ncould not run after the target.<\/p>\n
Military analyst from the Centre for Strategic and
\nInternational Studies (CSIS), Kusnanto Anggoro, however, opposed
\nHendro's proposal, saying that an intelligence institution must
\nnot have the authority to make an arrest.<\/p>\n
\"Their main duty is to give an early warning of possible
\nattacks, that is all. The police is the only institution that has
\nthe authority to make an arrest,\" he asserted on Friday, noting
\nthat no arrest should be permitted without convincing evidence.<\/p>\n
Instead of asking for more power, Kusnanto said BIN should
\nplay its role in coordinating all intelligence institutions in
\nthe country, as mandated by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has several intelligence institutions, including
\nBIN, the Indonesian Military's intelligence body (BAIS),
\nintelligence units at the National Police and the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office.<\/p>\n
Megawati has tasked BIN to coordinate all the works of those
\nintelligence bodies.<\/p>\n
\"Actually, there was no way for them not to share information.
\nIntelligence institutions inform the police of their findings,
\nthey have the authority to make arrests. Otherwise, they could
\nalso report it (the information) directly to the President,\"
\nKusnanto said.<\/p>\n
If the police or the President consider the intelligence
\nreports about possible attacks are credible enough, they must
\nshare the reports with the public in the form of warnings, such
\nas travel warnings (usually imposed by western countries).<\/p>\n
Hendropriyono admitted the poor coordination among
\nintelligence institutions in the country.<\/p>\n
\"It's a disaster and we must support each other in the future
\nwith solid cooperation. How can we have good cooperation if we
\nblame each other,\" he told reporters, promising to increase the
\ncooperation among intelligence institutions.<\/p>\n
The crack in relations among intelligence agencies started
\nwhen the police separated from the military in 2001, leading to a
\ndrop in the standard of intelligence operations in the country.<\/p>\n
And the poor performance of intelligence operations has often
\nbeen cited as one of the main factors in the country's failure to
\nprevent a series of terror attacks, with the latest at JW
\nMarriott Hotel in South Jakarta that killed 10 people and wounded
\n149 others.<\/p>\n
According to Kusnanto, the lack of coordination was caused by
\nrivalry among the institutions. Therefore, to forge better
\ncoordination and communications, they must attempt to put aside
\ntheir own interests.<\/p>\n
\"Only if they are able to put aside psychological problems
\nwithin themselves, the country's intelligence performance will
\nimprove,\" Kusnanto said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-intelligence-work-due-to-lack-of-coordination-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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