Former BAIS Head Says DPR's Intelligence Oversight Team is Useless
Former BAIS Chief Rear Admiral TNI (Ret.) Soleman Ponto emphasised that the Indonesian DPR does not possess the capacity or authority to examine intelligence agencies through its intelligence oversight team.
According to him, intelligence work is highly secretive, making it impossible for parliamentary oversight to bring any benefits.
“Why is there an intelligence overseer in the DPR? Look at old writings. Since it was introduced, I’ve said there’s no benefit to that overseer. Why? As I said earlier. It’s not visible, and what’s visible isn’t necessarily so,” said Ponto during the Intelligence Seminar at the School of Sustainable Development Postgraduate Programme in the IASTH Building, University of Indonesia Salemba, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/4).
Ponto likened intelligence to a knife, with leaders such as ministers, the TNI Commander, or the President being the ones holding the knife.
“The basic analogy between a person and a knife. The knife is used by the person. Okay? This tool has no will of its own. The one with will is the person. Here it’s the same. Intelligence is the knife. A tool that follows its holder. Okay, that’s one. So intelligence is the knife that follows the person. The one responsible is the person, not the knife,” explained Ponto.
If the DPR wishes to perform its oversight function, it should monitor and hold accountable the leaders of the agencies, not oversee or question “the knife” (field agents).
“Here, I prove it. The DPR can only see this ministry’s performance. But what’s inside, the working units, it’s impossible to read,” he stated.
Ponto explained that the intelligence oversight team was formed because it inherently has an oversight function. Although in practice, it is impossible for the DPR to request data directly from intelligence.
“And what is the DPR’s function there? Budget and oversight. Why does it go that far? If we take it legally, yes,” he said.
“But if we take it from intelligence theory, it’s like this. It’s impossible for the DPR to enter the ministry. Because intelligence is secret. The DPR has no authority to request reports, oversee operations, sources, intelligence methods, or who you followed last night. It’s impossible to be given. Even if given, it might not be true,” he added.