Govt sets up antiterrorism task force

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.