Govt sets up antiterror task force

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The latest bomb attack that rocked the country last week has prompted the government to set up a military-backed antiterror task force, which will be allowed to conduct clandestine operations.

The task force will fall under the auspices of the National Intelligence Body (BIN) chief, who will coordinate intelligence work between the National Police's antiterror squad, Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), the Navy's Special Forces Denjaka and the Air Force's Special Forces Bravo.

Interim coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno said on Wednesday the task force would help track down terrorist suspects nationwide.

"The task force will be assigned to carry out both open and clandestine operations to prevent terror attacks," Hari told a press conference.

Plainclothes personnel of the task force will also operate at airports and seaports accessible to terrorist suspects.

The task force will take over from the antiterror desk which was formed by Hari's predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shortly after the JW Marriott Hotel bombing here in August last year.

Under the new arrangement, the desk will be incorporated into the task force.

Hari said the existence of the new antiterror body was not in violation of the Law No 15/2003 on antiterrorism, which gives the police the main role. The law says military intelligence can provide data required to crack down on terrorist groups.

"The framework is still the same, but the military intelligence units will now be more involved in the whole process," Hari said, without elaborating.

The President issued Instruction No. 5/2002 that centralizes the coordination of all intelligence bodies under the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).

Hari acknowledged that the current military and police antiterror squads, as well as other intelligence units, did not have well-knit teamwork, leaving the police with problems in dealing with the crimes.

But the military's antiterror squads are not without weaknesses, Hari said, as they are merely trained to crush long- term terror attacks, such as hijacks and hostages, and are not familiar with immediate attacks like bombing.

The bomb blast outside the Australian Embassy last Thursday killed nine people and injured over 180 others. It was the third major terror attack in Indonesia in as many years, after the Bali bombings and Marriott attack.

Police have blamed the bomb attacks on regional terror network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), which has managed to recruit new members since the Bali blast in 2002.

The existing antiterror desk is lead by Insp. Gen. Ansjaad Mbai. It is tasked with providing the advice the government needs to crack down on the terrorist network.

Ansjaad said his desk had a different field of work from the antiterror task force, but would intensify coordination with the new body.

"We admit that all intelligence bodies have failed to work as a team. Therefore, the establishment of the task force is necessary, as it will help us focus on policy making, information sharing and conducting operations," he said.