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.