Tighter control over explosives imperative<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government's stricter security policy will not stop terrorism
\nif the government fails to tighten controls over the distribution
\nof explosives for military or industrial purposes and does not
\nwork to improve the professionalism of law enforcers, according
\nto analysts.<\/p>\n
Johnson Pandjaitan, a lawyer from the Indonesian Legal Aid and
\nHuman Rights Association (PBHI), said that it would be unfair for
\npeople to endure the recently announced tougher security measures
\nthat might force them to sacrifice their privacy, while on the
\nother hand "the government does nothing to control its
\ninstitutions dealing with security and order."<\/p>\n
"The government cannot force people to bow to its campaign and
\ntake it for granted that all state institutions are free from
\nviolations," Johnson asserted.<\/p>\n
"If security officers are allowed to check people's identity
\ncards and conduct raids on suspicious places without a warrant,
\nwhy can't people demand more transparency about the distribution
\nof military grade explosive materials?" Johnson told The Jakarta
\nPost over the weekend.<\/p>\n
"It just makes sense that our security people have access to
\ncompanies that manufacture explosives here, and surely they must
\nhave some knowledge of whether TNT, RDX or some other explosive
\nmaterials were sold to or stolen by unauthorized people," Johnson
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Police investigators have said that traces of TNT and RDX were
\nboth found in the Bali bombings last October and the Marriott
\nHotel blast last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Following the bomb attack on the American-managed hotel in
\nSouth Jakarta, the government announced a plan to impose stricter
\nsecurity measures which would include intensifying ID checks and
\nraids on suspicious houses without a warrant.<\/p>\n
Local governments have also been encouraged to ensure that
\npeople living in their jurisdiction remain vigilant and report
\nany suspicious people or activity. In some places, such as the
\nCentral Java capital of Semarang, the administration has already
\nasked people to sign a letter stating that their houses and
\nneighborhood are "free from explosive materials."<\/p>\n
The government admitted that the policy may cause
\ninconvenience and violate people's privacy, but said it must be
\nviewed as a preemptive action against terrorism rather than
\nintervention of their rights.<\/p>\n
Johnson suggested that if security officers behaved in a
\nprofessional manner while doing their jobs it would win the
\npeople's trust.<\/p>\n
At least 10 people were killed and 150 others injured in the
\nattack on the Marriott hotel. Investigators have reportedly
\nlinked the blast to Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), the regional terror
\ngroup blamed for the Bali bombings.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been rocked by a series of bomb attacks since
\n2000, but those in charge of security have not been able to
\ncompletely control the distribution of explosive materials.<\/p>\n
Sharing Johnson's view was lawyer Frans Hendra Winarta, the
\nsecretary of the National Legal Commission (KHN), who said
\nrepressive measures would be acceptable as long as they were only
\ntargeted at preventing more acts of terror.<\/p>\n
Frans encouraged the National Police to establish
\ninternational cooperation in preventing terrorism due to its poor
\nrecord of handling it alone.<\/p>\n
He also stated that the implementation of the new security
\npolicy should not involve the military unless the government
\ndeclared a state of emergency.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tighter-control-over-explosives-imperative-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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