Intelligence system being restructured, Mahfud says
Intelligence system being restructured, Mahfud says
YOGYAKARTA (JP): The government is revamping the national
intelligence system as recent terrorist attacks have proven the
weaknesses of the old institution, Defense Minister M. Mahfud MD.
revealed on Thursday.
"I, along with Coordinating Minister for Political, Security
and Social Welfare Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Bakin
chief Arie J. Kumaat, have been assigned by the President to
restructure the system," Mahfud told reporters at his private
residence here.
The plan came amid a series of bomb attacks which hit almost
14 cities simultaneously across the country on Christmas eve,
leaving 16 people dead and almost 120 others wounded.
On the agenda for the reform program, Mahfud said, will be the
introduction of the State Intelligence Body (BIN), which will
replace the current State Intelligence Coordinating Body (Bakin).
Unlike Bakin, BIN will adopt an integrated system comprising
various state intelligence bodies.
The defense ministry has also established a new unit dealing
with intelligence affairs called Directorate General of Strategic
Environment Analysis. The unit has two directors whose jobs are
to support intelligence and counter intelligence activities.
"The presidential decree on the new directorate general and
the directors has been signed on Dec. 21," Mahfud said.
He said establishing an effective intelligence system requires
huge and unlimited funds because criminals who wish to undermine
the state also have a lot of money to finance their operations.
"Our intelligence officers are paid Rp 8,000 (less than US$1)
a day, so it's obvious they cannot match the rich criminals,"
Mahfud said.
He believed that Monday's bombings of churches across the
country were masterminded by a certain group and involved huge
funds.
"We surmised the people belong to an affluent group and the
perpetrator is probably living in Jakarta," he said.
"Our analysis is the attacks were masterminded by people who
used to enjoy power during the New Order, not necessarily Pak
Harto who may not even know anything about the bombings. The
people are now exploiting their money and resources to hamper the
reform movement."
The former officials are believed to hold "trump cards" to
force their successors to prevent any attempt to bring them to
justice, Mahfud said.
"So we must find a breakthrough to help the current state
officials eliminate the psychological obstacles facing them in
fighting the troublemakers," he said.
Mahfud hailed the recent establishment of a pressure group,
Forum Indonesia Damai (Indonesia Forum for Peace), to urge the
government to speed up the investigation into the bombings.
(23/jun)