Govt sets up antiterrorism task force

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is establishing a special antiterrorism task force to deal with terrorist threats, including suspected terrorist plots and actual terrorist attacks.

"The task force will consist of special forces from the Air Force, Navy, (National Police) Mobile Brigade, and the Antiterrorism Unit from the Army's Special Forces," Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

Endriartono said the task force was needed to deal with a direct terrorist act, such as a plane hijacking.

"The Defense Minister (Matori Abdul Djalil) is still checking military and police units that meet the qualifications for the job."

He did not say when the task force would be established or outline its duties.

Matori urged the public at large to understand the government's plan to set up the task force.

"Terrorism is not an ordinary crime so there is a need for pre-emptive measures. Without a task force assigned to deal with this problem, war against terrorism will never be effective," Matori was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday.

He said the establishment of an antiterrorism task force was not meant to revive the Order and Security Restoration Command (Kopkamtib) that was used by former president Soeharto to silence his critics.

Matori said it would be set up as soon as possible but did not give an exact date.

The antiterror task force would consist of special forces from the TNI and police and would be in charge of preventing and addressing terrorist threats in the country, he said.

He stressed that any suspected terrorist arrested on the basis of intelligence reports would not be treated as a terrorist until the court proved them to be so.

People's concerns about human rights were due to people misunderstanding the situation.

"I appeal to the public, non-governmental organizations and intellectuals to look at the plan comprehensively. That is, that the task force is being established to spare the country from terrorist threats," he said.