Men on top: Members of the Counterterrorism Police Detachment 88 jump on a carriage during training in Semarang, Central Java. The International Counterterrorism Training Center (Platina) is located in Semarang.
The personnel, who were fully armed, clad in black suits, wearing steel helmets, boots and masks, became practically unidentifiable.
Their maneuvers were agile, tactical, well coordinated and fast.
With efficient movements they besieged a hotel, some entering a room by hanging on a rope from the top of the building, others ducking from the front entrance. Thereafter, they fired rapid gunshots and emerged moments later, holding several guys. On the other side, some of the black troopers also saved a number of civilians.
The scene just passed was part of a rehearsal aimed at teaching students of the International Counterterrorism Training Center (Platina) and the Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Corporation (JCLEC) the skills required to overcome a terrorist attack, in the complex of the Police Academy in Semarang.
The exercise was very similar to the actual raids previously conducted on terrorist hideouts, such as those of Dr. Azahari in Malang, East Java, Ibrohim in Temanggung, Central Java, Noordin M. Top in Solo, Central Java, and Dulmatin in Pamulang, Tangerang, Banten.
In fact, such exercises are also carried out aboard fast moving buses, trains, ships and also planes. All these field activities are part of the counterterrorism training students have to undertake to prepare them for real circumstances.
Graduates of the counterterrorism school have demonstrated their achievements. They were capable of breaking into the dens of terrorists. Although several terrorist acts still escaped police detection, their perpetrators and networks were seized and uncovered within a short time.
People living in Semarang are not shy when it comes to sharing their thoughts on terrorism in Indonesia.
“I just want security in this country. As a housewife with a food stall to run, a peaceful atmosphere is all I need, which will also make people happy. I don’t even follow reports on terrorist arrests,” said Siti, a Kampung Gergaji resident.
Sutrisno from Gajahmungkur paused for a moment before commenting on the successful actions of the counterterrorist Special Detachment 88. “Actually, everybody wants a safe environment. It’s indeed hard to fathom why some people wage such a struggle according to their faith. I’d rather choose a safe life,” said the man.
JCLEC and Platina, inaugurated by president Megawati Sukarnoputri on July 3, 2004, were established as a follow-up to the international meeting of 25 foreign ministers of Asia-Pacific countries in Bali in February 2004. Representatives from the Asia-Pacific region deemed it necessary to cooperate in enforcing the law and fighting terrorism.
Indonesia and a few other countries provided funds for the development of JCLEC and Platina.
Australia made available US$38 million for a five-year cooperation. As indicated by then Police Chief Dai Bachtiar, several African and European nations also showed interest by contributing funds, assigning instructors and sending students to be trained in Semarang as counterterrorism specialists.
When it was first opened in the middle of 2004, 31 people joined the training center. Twenty one came from Asia-Pacific countries like China, Fiji, South Korea, Vanuatu, Timorleste, and 10 from Indonesia. They were police officers or law enforcers from prosecutor’s institutions, immigration offices and customs agencies.
The entry requirements for the counterterrorism school are quite high. Students must be between 26 and 40 years old, have a certain level of English proficiency, basic detective or intelligence training and detective or intelligence assignments, as well as a minimum rank equivalent to that of captain or police adjunct commissioner.
For two to three weeks, they also receive training in six different areas: International Management of Serious Crime (IMOSC), forensics, financial investigation including money laundering and terrorism funding, intelligence, communications, strategic intelligence and research.
The unveiling of the Bali bombings, which killed around 200 people, and the Marriott Hotel bombings that took the life of dozens, seem to have been the main reason for entrusting Indonesia with the management of this training center. With experience in handling cases of terrorism, Indonesia — as a terrorist target — has succeeded in exposing the workings of various terrorist acts.
Platina as a field training facility is located in the Bhayangkara square within the complex of Semarang’s Police Academy campus, where there are several buildings from living quarters to a hotel, besides a ship in a large pool on the corner, a Merpati Fokker plane, a train with executive coaches and an asphalt road around a grass field.
The plane was transported from Surabaya’s Juanda Airport while the train was brought in from Samarang’s Poncol railway station.
The JCLEC campus is south of the Judo Hall on the upper side of Platina. The C-shaped building houses lecture rooms and a library. All the theoretical, analytical and managerial aspects of the training are provided there, including subjects like investigation, intelligence, multi-media technology, data analysis and forensics.
The 13 instructors at this center, who are all experts in their relevant areas, include Indonesia’s Bali Bombing Investigation Team chairman Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika, field commandant in the arrest of Bali bombing suspects Brig. Gen. Goris Mere and Brig. Gen. Edi Saparwoko. The other instructors come from the US, Australia, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands.
This school’s annual training program for counterterrorism agents has four classes of students, each following two months’ training. On the 1,000-square-meter plot, they are trained in various techniques against terrorist acts, and learn how to rescue hostages from a plane, building, train, or bus.
They are also trained in post-bombing activities like evacuation, helping survivors and identifying victims torn into pieces.
DNA identification done through forensics and medical laboratories of police and judicial institutions is also a major subject. Scientific analysis is carried out at the center to determine the type of equipment and bombs used by perpetrators. Examples of such cases are Bali bombings I and II, and JW Marriott Hotel blasts.
In May 2005, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited the counterterrorism training center and watched some exercises in several places of the complex.
After six years, this school has produced dozens of specialists in counterterrorism.
Meanwhile, in Central Java, Regional Police Chief Insp. Gen. Bambang Riatmodjo said his forces had been monitoring former terrorist convicts to anticipate any network of terrorism.
“We’re also recording and observing all related developments,” he added. Bambang stressed the
importance of maintaining a favorable climate in the province and preventing any disturbance to security and order.
Graduates of the ounterterrorism school have demonstrated their achievements. They were capable of breaking into the dens of terrorists.
Fast and furious: Counterterrorism officers practice driving. Many counterterrorism agents from Indonesia and neighboring countries graduate from Platina.
— Photos by JP/Suherdjoko
