Jakarta to set up antiterrorism group
Jakarta to set up antiterrorism group
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia plans to establish a consortium to coordinate financial
assistance from the international community aimed at enhancing
the country's efforts to fight terrorism.
"We are determined to set up a 'consortium' consisting of
countries that are willing to support us in security issues
especially in dealing with terrorists," Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday.
"That way we could effectively apply the financial support to
fulfill our needs," he said in his year-end statement.
The consortium will gather all pledged financial support from
countries for Indonesia, which will coordinate and distribute the
fund.
"We have to translate the international community's
appreciation regarding the Bali bombing investigation into
concrete support to improve our capability in dealing with
terrorism," Hassan underlined.
"The prompt investigation into the Bali bombing has given us a
great chance to shift the world's attention from terrorism to
other issues," he added.
Indonesia came under the international spotlight after the
Oct. 12 Bali bombing, which claimed the lives of more than 190
people mostly foreign holidaymakers.
The deadly blast had forced the world to focus on the
terrorist network in the Southeast Asia region, especially after
the inclusion of Jamaah Islamiyah organization, operating in the
region, on the United Nations terrorist list.
Indonesia had been accused of lacking the capability and
seriousness to deal with the most feared threat in the world in
the past years.
Hassan admitted that the country had limitations in its laws
and lacked the institutional capability to deal with the
extraordinary crime.
Police have named 15 people as suspects, including the main
players behind the bombing, earning Indonesia worldwide
appreciation.
The prompt investigation is also supported by technical
assistance from Australia, the United States, Britain and Japan.
Foreign ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa further explained
the antiterrorist consortium would be a non-permanent body.
"That way we can determine, which part of our security
apparatus needs more support and which part does not, so the
support will be in accordance with our needs and interests,"
Marty told The Jakarta Post.
He further said the consortium would manage the pledged
financial support from the international community for concrete
objectives.