T

he Indonesian Military (TNI) wants a direct role in combatting terrorists in the country, despite the fear that this will allow it to commit repressive acts against civilians.

During a hearing with the House of Representative’s special committee on the revision of the 2003 Terrorism Law, the TNI’s chief of general staff, Vice Adm. Didit Herdiawan Ashraf, requested that terrorism no longer be considered a criminal act.

Under prevailing law, terrorism is a criminal act, thus it is beyond military jurisdiction and only law enforcement agencies, such as the National Police and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), that can directly tackle it, while the TNI can only take part under the President’s orders.

“The responsibility belongs to us, not only the police, because the terrorists are now developing military systems,” Didit said.

Also in the draft revision of the law, TNI wants the authority to maximize the use of its Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS) for early detection and to conduct investigations of groups and individuals.

Special committee chairman Muhammad Syafi’i said the role of the military was important, but it could not get too deeply into civilian matters. “There should be a limitation and a difference between the roles of the TNI and the police, otherwise it may lead to repressive acts,” Syafi’i said.