Govt to revive National Defense Council

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government is planning to revive the National Defense Council (DKN) in order to strengthen the decision-making process on various conflicts in the country.

Speaking to the media after a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the council would concentrate on internal defense.

"This is not a new agency, but a revised form of the current National Defense Board (Wantanas), which will focus on internal defense," Susilo said.

He stressed that the revived council was not meant to be another defense council with unlimited authority in ensuring peace in the country, but would serve as an advisory body on various conflicts.

"The current Wantanas concentrates on both internal and external security, while the security law covers only domestic defense," Susilo said.

Wantanas was established in 2000 under former president Abdurrahman Wahid, with authority to monitor conflicts across the country.

The board was established to provide as much information as possible for the president before the head of state chose the policies or measures for dealing with conflicts.

Indonesia has been plagued by a variety of conflicts and sectarian clashes in Aceh, Maluku, Central Sulawesi and Papua provinces.

The establishment of Wantanas was reminiscent of a similar body that existed during the leadership of former president Soeharto. It had a wide-ranging authority, including the scrutiny of ordinary people in the name of security.

Susilo said that although the new council would focus on domestic security, it would merely assist the president in the decision-making process regarding security issues.

"We need to improve the performance of the board in helping the president to deal with the internal threat to the country," the minister said.

Susilo said that the president and vice president would serve as the head and deputy head of the planned security council.

"The members will all be drawn from the executive, in accordance with the security law," he added.

The revival of the council would be further discussed by the Cabinet before the proposal could be submitted to the House of Representatives.

Earlier, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that he supported the government's plan to revive the council as it was needed to help resolve prolonged conflicts in the country.