No conflict among senior security officials: BIN
No conflict among senior security officials: BIN
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
An official dismissed fear of possible competition among
intelligence and security institutions that could make the
current war against terrorism in the country counterproductive.
The issuance of two new presidential instructions providing
greater powers for coordinating minister for political and
security affairs and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief
remained in accordance with the existing chain of command and
would empower the country in dealing with terrorism, BIN
spokesman Muchyar Yara said.
"The BIN chief always reported his plan and duties to the
coordinating minister, even before the issuance of presidential
instruction No. 5/2002 recently," Muchyar told The Jakarta Post
on Wednesday.
He emphasized that although the BIN chief would report the
results of investigations directly to the President, the planning
of the intelligence operation would just need the approval of the
coordinating minister for political and security affairs.
"There is no overlapping or competition between the two senior
officials," Muchyar remarked.
Following the tragedy in Bali on Oct. 12, President Megawati
Soekarnoputri instructed BIN Chief Hendropriyono to coordinate
with all intelligence operatives in the country.
At the same time Megawati, through her second instruction,
provided Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the authority to coordinate the anti-
terror desk, which includes intelligence operations.
Apart from its conflicting substance, the decision has also
raised concern because BIN Chief Hendropriyono was ranked higher
than Susilo within the Indonesian Military (TNI) when both
retired.
Muchyar said that the anti-terror desk had the authority to
design policies, and therefore intelligence should be
incorporated into it.
Susilo earlier explained that the anti-terror desk covered the
intelligence, law enforcement, international cooperation and
public relations section.
He said that the desk served to coordinate the planning of
each section in conducting their duties, but the authority to
operate remained in the hands of each institution.
Muchyar said that the BIN chief coordinating authority was
basically binding intelligence agencies together from the police,
military and attorney general's office.
"However, the coordinating authority of the anti-terror desks
will cover all of that and it was nothing new because all this
time BIN has always reported to Susilo," he reiterated.