Bakin wary of new poll watchdog
Bakin wary of new poll watchdog
JAKARTA (JP): The outgoing Chief of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin), Lt. Gen. (ret) Soedibyo, told the nation yesterday to beware of the newly-established Independent Election Monitoring Committee and of the ethnic, racial and religious issues that could disrupt national stability before next year's general election.
"We must prevent the committee's activities from harming social order and the existing political system," he said after transferring his post to Lt. Gen. Moetojib yesterday.
Moetojib, former governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), was installed as chief of the intelligence body by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono at Bakin Headquarters in Pejaten, South Jakarta.
Soedibyo said that the independent group is a rival to the National Election Supervision Committee set up by the government to monitor elections and that it lies outside of the system.
The independent watchdog, set up early last month, is chaired by Goenawan Mohamad, former editor of the now-defunct Tempo news magazine. Its membership is made up of noted political observers and human rights activists, including Nurcholish Madjid and Arbi Sanit, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Luhut Pangaribuan.
It has been welcomed by many political observers as well as the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party.
However, it has been criticized by the government, the Armed Forces and some leaders of the ruling party, Golkar -- most of whom refuse to recognize the committee.
Moerdiono, in his speech, challenged Bakin to carry out its main task of providing early information on the latest developments in the social, political, cultural and defense fields.
"The more accurate the information the more significant it is for the head of state in making decisions," he said.
Moerdiono said that the other challenge faced by Bakin is to monitor local and international changes that could be harmful to Indonesia.
"Bakin should be able to detect all the changes and make predictions about their possible effects here," he said.
The minister said Soedibyo was successful in his role as Bakin's deputy chief between 1988 and 1989 and as the Board's chief between 1989 and 1996.
Moetojib, 56, graduated from the Military Academy in 1962. He later took advanced courses and studied at various military schools.
He attended the Army Staff and Command School in 1976, the Joint Command School in 1982 and a Lemhannas course in 1988.
His previous positions include chief of staff of the Jakarta garrison (1988-1991), commandant of the Army's Center for Territorial Affairs (1991-1992), chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi (1992-1993) and Lemhannas governor (1994-1996).
Asked to comment on Moetojib's new appointment, Moerdiono said that despite his lack of experience in the intelligence field, Moetojib would was right for the job.
"The position needs no broad experience in the intelligence field," Moerdiono said, adding that Moetojib's experience at Lemhannas would also be helpful. (rms)
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