Intelligence in the regions?
Intelligence in the regions?
From Suara Pembaruan
I disagree with the statement of Vice President Hamzah Haz at Police Headquarters on Nov. 28, to the effect that he did not object to the idea of expanding the state intelligence agency (BIN) throughout the country. This is totally ridiculous.
It is incomprehensible to expand BIN's network in the regions. Instead, BIN, in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should have its representatives in foreign countries all over the world. Its tasks include, among other things, to maintain the Indonesian Republic's existence and credibility as a member of world society.
BIN also functions as counter-espionage against foreign intelligence operatives operating in the republic. Look at the CIA of the United States and Mossad of Israel, for example.
Planning and maintaining its existence in the regions, BIN will only make itself a local champion. In fact, the tasks of countering and eliminating both internal and external threats have been accommodated by the National Security Service (DKN), an intelligence service under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense. The areas of responsibility of this service has been shared among various institutions put in place in the provinces such as regional military commands, resort military commands, rayon military commands and the non-commissioned officer posted in village chief's offices.
The present military intelligence is called Bais, an agency under the military commander-in-chief, carrying out the task as a combat intelligent.
Investigation of breaches of the civil and criminal codes by individuals or groups can be performed by the Police, public prosecutors, the Customs and Excise Office as well as the Immigration Office. These are grouped in the Combined Investigation Force.
If only our leaders were highly capable and smart, they could establish a competent intelligence service within their budget constraints, i.e. by utilizing the resources already available in the country.
SLAMET ABADI, Jakarta