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 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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