Intelligence body will have offices in regencies
Intelligence body will have offices in regencies
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Intelligence Agency (BIN) will have much broader
powers soon after President Megawati Soekarnoputri signs a decree
authorizing the agency to open offices in all provinces,
regencies and municipalities across the country, creating new
fears of repression.
State Minister for Administrative Reforms Feisal Tamim
disclosed on Wednesday that the President had agreed with the
expansion plan.
An official at the State Secretariat told The Jakarta Post
that until now no draft decree had been submitted to the office
for further discussion.
"We reported the plan to the President and there will be a
presidential decree for the establishment of these offices,"
Feisal said after meeting with the President along with BIN chief
Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hendropriyono at the State Palace.
Hendropriyono himself refused to talk to journalists.
Feisal said that each of BIN's representative offices would be
under the auspices of both BIN headquarters and the regional
administration.
"For example at the provincial level the governor will also
supervise the office, while at the municipal level it will be
coordinated by regents or the mayor," Feisal added.
The minister did not say whether the regional BIN offices will
be directly under the authority of the local government. But with
the newly expanded authority, BIN will reduce its dependence on
the police and the TNI, which have offices up to the district
level.
The plan to establish BIN regional offices had been discussed
since late 2002, following the Oct. 12 Bali bombing that killed
more than 200 people. At that time there was strong criticism of
the weak coordination among state intelligence agencies,
especially between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National
Police.
Megawati then issued Presidential Instruction No. 5/2002,
naming BIN as the sole coordinator for all intelligence
activities in the country.
With the presidential decree the Indonesian Military (TNI),
National Police and Attorney General's Office should report their
findings to BIN.
The latest move to establish regional offices has created
fears of a possible return to repressive and abusive practices.
During Soeharto's era, one of the intelligence agency's main
activities was to spy on citizens. Intelligence officers also
often abused their power to enrich themselves.
The National Coordinating Intelligence Agency (BAKIN), one of
the country's intelligence units was used to detect the spread of
communism and the infiltration of foreign powers.
Then president Abdurrahman Wahid scrapped the authority for
BIN to coordinate intelligence activities in 2000, arguing that
people did not need such tight surveillance.
However, the recent terror attacks have given new reason for
BIN to regain its role in coordinating intelligence activities in
the country.
Many parties, including the House of Representatives have
warned that the expansion of intelligence operations would
provoke public anxiety.
HISTORY OF BIN
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No. Time Decision
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1. 1980s President Soeharto establishes the
National Coordinating Intelligence Agency
(BAKIN)
2. October 2000 President Abdurrahman Wahid revamps
BAKIN and changes its name to State
Intelligence Agency (BIN) scrapping its
coordinating authority
3. October 2002 President Megawati Soekarnoputri issues
Presidential Decree No.5/2002 that reinstates
BIN's coordinating power
4. 2003 Megawati is slated to sign presidential decree
to establish BIN regional offices in the
country