Police Predict Terrorism Likely Remain as Main Turmoil in 2019

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police has predicted terrorism and radicalism issues still potentially become the main disturbance to the public security and order in 2019.

General Tito Karnavian, National Police Chief, said terrorism remained as a threat because the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continuously made a move in the international level despite being suppressed, and so its movement influenced terrorism network in Indonesia.

“As long as they [ISIS] have not completely done, they will strive to operate their network abroad to together carry out terror acts in a bid to divert public concern, such as in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Their group here [Indonesia] possibly generate an act,” said Tito in the National Police Headquarter, Thursday, December 27.

However, the police have obtained a strong legal instrument; Law No. 5 of 2018 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism. The regulation noted that the police could arrest a person or an organization allegedly involved in terrorism without waiting for a terror act to occur.

“Despite potential threats exist, with our stronger skills and policy, we can deal with them [terrorists],” Tito asserted.

After the issuance of the Terrorism Law, the anti-terror squad Densus 88 have arrested 396 suspected terrorists throughout May up to December 2018.

Other than terrorism issue, the police have also identified numbers of potential threats in 2019, including armed criminal groups, social conflicts, cyber crimes, and narcotics.

ANDITA RAHMA