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.