On terrorism
<p>On terrorism</p><p>From Media Indonesia</p><p> Rampant terrorist acts across the world have led to
controversies in our country about the need for our intelligence
service to enjoy greater authority, so that terrorism can be
better countered and handled.</p><p>Bomb attacks perpetrated by terrorists in Indonesia have led
to both the world's sympathy for Indonesia and allegations that
the country is a lair of terrorists.</p><p>To deal with the impact of terrorist attacks at home, the
Indonesian government issued a government regulation in lieu of
law on antiterrorism in 2002, which the House later ratified as
the law on antiterrorism.</p><p>The law can be enforced effectively only if our intelligence
service enjoys greater authority in dealing with terrorism. Our
national police cannot make the best use of this law unless it is
supported by intelligence services, for example the intelligence
service of the Indonesian military and the state intelligence
agency.</p><p>The fact is that now, our intelligence services enjoy only a
limited authority to arrest those suspected of being involved in
terrorist acts, while the national police have no authority to
carry out such arrests. The police can arrest only those who are
suspected of having committed terrorist acts.</p><p>It is this legal constraint that has prevented our security
apparatuses from properly preventing and countering acts of
terror in this country.</p><p>The deputy prime minister of Malaysia once attributed that
country's success in establishing security and prosperity for
Malaysians to the enforcement of its Internal Security Act (ISA).
Indonesia must look up to Malaysia as a model in this respect.</p><p> ADAM SYAHRONI
Jakarta</p>
controversies in our country about the need for our intelligence
service to enjoy greater authority, so that terrorism can be
better countered and handled.</p><p>Bomb attacks perpetrated by terrorists in Indonesia have led
to both the world's sympathy for Indonesia and allegations that
the country is a lair of terrorists.</p><p>To deal with the impact of terrorist attacks at home, the
Indonesian government issued a government regulation in lieu of
law on antiterrorism in 2002, which the House later ratified as
the law on antiterrorism.</p><p>The law can be enforced effectively only if our intelligence
service enjoys greater authority in dealing with terrorism. Our
national police cannot make the best use of this law unless it is
supported by intelligence services, for example the intelligence
service of the Indonesian military and the state intelligence
agency.</p><p>The fact is that now, our intelligence services enjoy only a
limited authority to arrest those suspected of being involved in
terrorist acts, while the national police have no authority to
carry out such arrests. The police can arrest only those who are
suspected of having committed terrorist acts.</p><p>It is this legal constraint that has prevented our security
apparatuses from properly preventing and countering acts of
terror in this country.</p><p>The deputy prime minister of Malaysia once attributed that
country's success in establishing security and prosperity for
Malaysians to the enforcement of its Internal Security Act (ISA).
Indonesia must look up to Malaysia as a model in this respect.</p><p> ADAM SYAHRONI
Jakarta</p>