Antiterror unit starts tough tasks this week
Antiterror unit starts tough tasks this week
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A special antiterror team linking the police, the military,
and several ministries started its work on Monday, with the first
task to monitor and evaluate security around the country during
Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
The 48-member team is tasked to coordinate Indonesia's efforts
to combat terrorism, according to Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
In his speech inaugurating the team, Susilo said the unit
would also be tasked to evaluate past and present antiterrorism
efforts and plan follow-up measures.
In addition, the team would also be authorized to coordinate
intelligence work, pursue international cooperation, law
enforcement and information and communications.
"The first task is already awaiting...that is to monitor and
evaluate the security situation across the country towards for
Christmas Day and New Year's, so that we can take all
commensurate steps over possible crimes, that include terrorist
activities," Susilo said.
Susilo further said that the team should also anticipate
further disturbances in the coming years due to the expected
heightening of political tension leading up to the 2004 general
elections and presidential elections.
The team will be led by Insp. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai from the
National Police.
Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin, who attended Monday's
ceremony, said that the Central Bank would cooperate with the
team by giving access for the team members to investigate
suspected terrorists' accounts, putting aside the bank secrecy
principles.
"I certainly support the team in carrying out their duties,
and of course, we will hold further coordination over the
mechanism of the investigation process into the terrorists'
accounts," Sjahril said.
Soon after the Oct. 12 Bali bombing, the government issued two
antiterrorism regulations in lieu of law that give security
officers extra authority to move against suspected terrorists.
These extras include detention without trial, as well as
probing bank accounts.
The two government regulations, despite opposition from
certain groups, have been utilized by security forces to trace
down suspects of the Bali bombing.
The police have arrested 15 suspects for the Bali bombing --
out of the 26 suspects already named by the police, including two
Malaysians. The other 11 remain at large.
The government has submitted two terror-related bills to the
House of Representatives for deliberation to replace the two
regulations in lieu of law.
The issuance of the antiterror regulations and the submission
of the two bills was, according to those groups that oppose them,
prompted by intense international pressures for Indonesia to take
action against suspected terrorists running freely in Indonesia.
Selected members of the antiterror unit:
* Moehanto -- director general of the regional autonomy at the
Ministry of Home Affairs
* Aulia Pohan -- deputy governor of Bank Indonesia
* Maj. Gen. Soetikno -- the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s
intelligence body
* Col. Sjafniel Armijn -- former Lilawangsa (Aceh) Military
commander
* Abdul Ghani Abdullah -- director general of legislation at the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights
* Maj. Gen. Sudrajat -- director general of defense strategy at
the Ministry of Defense
* Makmur Widodo -- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* Muhammad Indra -- director for immigration control at the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.