TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo says the Indonesian Armed Forces’ (TNI) aid in eradicating terrorism will be limited to intelligence matters. All cases of terrorism will still fall under the National Police’s jurisdiction.
Timur released his statement in response to the TNI’s plan to form a special team to eradicate terrorism, as stated by new TNI Commander Gen. Moeldoko. The team will be a combination of forces from the army, navy and air force, which will then be deployed if the National Police’s Detasemen Khusus 88 (Densus 88) anti-terror squad cannot handle a terrorism case on its own.
Timur claimed the National Police were able to solve around 90 percent of terrorism cases. Cases that have not been solved yet are due to the various levels of complications on the field. The National Police, he added, has also collaborated with the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) to help de-radicalize terrorists, yet this program has not been entirely successful yet.
"Only five percent out of all captured terrorist were willing to leave behind their radical beliefs," he said.
TNI spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said the military must still be included in the fight against terrorism. However, the armed forces will not be involved in all cases of terrorism and will only be deployed for severe cases of terrorism.
"For example, if the state’s sovereignty is disrupted," he said.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS | ANANDA BADUDU | INDRA WIJAYA
