TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) together with the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police reported Coordinator for Commission for Missing Persons and the Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Haris Azhar to the police. Those three institutions objected to what Haris wrote about the personal testimony of Freddy Budiman. This death row inmate allegedly spoke about the suspected involvement of the police, the military and BNN officials in the illegal narcotics business. The strong reaction of those three institutions has drawn criticism from many circles. However, according to BNN chief Com. Gen. Budi Waseso, questioning and verification will be expedited to check if Freddy's 'admission' is true or not. "The President ordered us to quickly follow up on that information," Budi Waseso told Tempo reporter Linda Trianita at the BNN office last week.
Why did BNN rush to report Haris Azhar to the police?
Because this matter had already been published, the police have the authority to prove its truthfulness. To handle the case, the police must have the grounds to act. That police report will be the basis for summoning Haris. This does not mean that Haris can become a suspect. This is for the legal process. If there is no report, the police cannot summon him.
Three institutions agreed to file that police report?
No. We did not meet. I gave the order to make a report to the police for the purpose of expediting verification. The national police and the TNI also reported it due to an interest in verifying the matter. This happened concurrently, (although) it was reported that it was a joint decision. Accordingly, a two-star TNI general protected Freddy, that a certain police officer received Rp90 billion. BNN was also mentioned. We were surprised. This is dirty. We must clean it up.
That police report was criticized by many...
It was seen as being overreactive and an effort to criminalize. But it was not like that. Do not use such language. Criminalization (is a term which) refers to a baseless action. In this case the deed exists. That news is there, and that person is there. How can it be called criminalization? This is (an attempt to) form a negative opinion. Our objective is to follow procedures. There must be some questioning. The police have the authority to do it, not BNN and not TNI. Let the police get to the bottom of it. If it is proven, if it is true, it will be used as a basis to follow-up internally.
Recently BNN has been raiding prisons quite often. Is this connected with Freddy's network?
No. Don't keep connecting everything with Freddy, especially since he is dead. Don't turn Freddy into a hero, as if he was bullied. His actions resulted in many victims. Please see the complete picture. Correctional facilities are indeed our priority, not Freddy Budiman. There are 72 networks which have nothing to do with him. From raids at 28 prisons, we have proven that.
If not Freddy, who runs those 72 drug networks?
We know who they are and we will arrest them when we have the evidence. If I say that the kingpin is a certain person, they might flee. It's enough for us to know who they are. We will nab them at the right time. (*)
Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
