Analysts blame debacle on intelligence failure
Analysts blame debacle on intelligence failure
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Noted analysts blamed Saturday's bombings in Bali and Manado
in North Sulawesi on Indonesia's lack of seriousness as well as
its poor intelligence work in dealing with terrorism.
"State intelligence and law enforcers failed to anticipate
several terror acts in the country, despite the fact that
Indonesia's geographic and social conditions provide a safe haven
for terrorism," military observer Kusnanto Anggoro said
Monday.
He also criticized several state officials and politicians who
had disregarded the presence of possible terrorist networks in
the country.
"The denial reflects the government's inability to cope with
terrorism," he told reporters at a press conference held by
ProPatria, a working group for reform in the security sector.
The group called on the government to boost professionalism
and accountability within the state intelligence apparatus in
order to cope with terrorism.
"Strengthening state intelligence is a must, but it must not
pave the way for Indonesia's military to return to politics as in
the New Order regime," Kusnanto asserted.
Indonesia's intelligence thrived under the New Order, wherein
the state intelligence apparatus was a powerful, and effective,
institution that could make arrests without a court order.
Apart from that, the military, then called the Indonesian
Armed Forces (ABRI), monopolized intelligence gathering and
processing. Today, the military shares the responsibility with
the Indonesian Police, which used to be part of ABRI. This shared
burden, which has downgraded the military's capabilities and
financial resources, has led to a rivalry between the two
institutions.
Researcher Rifki Muna added that state intelligence must
cooperate with international and regional intelligence to share
information as a preventive measure against possible terror acts.
"As part of the international community, Indonesia may ask
other country's to assist us in combating terrorism, which is a
global phenomenon with international links. It's not only our
problem," he said.
However, Rifki said that the government should only use
intelligence information to investigate potential terror acts.
"We couldn't send someone or a group to jail with that kind of
information (international intelligence) until law enforcers find
evidence of a crime, especially since we are striving for
democracy," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Fajrul Falaakh of the National Law Commission (KHN)
and Rudy Satrio of the University of Indonesia urged the
government to utilize appropriate laws to address terrorism.
"The government must employ the country's current instruments
and institutions of the law while the antiterrorism bill is still
being deliberated upon. Law enforcers could actually use the
criminal code or laws here to charge suspected terrorists," Rudy
said.
Fajrul suggested that the government ratify several
international conventions on terrorism or issue an executive
order as a temporary move before the passage of the antiterrorism
bill.
"Terrorism is against humanity and negates universal morality.
Therefore, there is no other way for the government but to take
firm action against terrorism," Kusnanto said.