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.