'Koter' to prevent terrorism

'Koter' to prevent terrorism

From Kompas

Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said that the government plans to reactivate territorial commands (koter) to enable the TNI's active participation in eradicating terrorism. As citizens striving for the nation's peaceful existence, we should support this plan.

Such commands should not be seen with prejudice because in reality their presence is needed as a means of early prevention of all forms of terrorism. The nation's hard work to build world confidence should not just be spoiled by certain groups that are opposed to the country's advancement.

To this end, we should have a common understanding of the empowerment of koter, because any negative reaction arising from the plan is due to a narrow perception of territorial commands, which is limited to a past image.

There should thus be the common vision that koter's reactivation is for the sheer purpose of guaranteeing security through the prevention of any terrorist threat. Polemics that make us drawn into the past while overlooking tough challenges in the future should be abandoned.

DIAN S. AMBARUKMI Depok, West Java