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House split on military roles in Terrorism Law

The House of Representatives will find it hard to complete deliberations of an amendment to the Terrorism Law, as factions are still divided over the military’s role in countering terrorism and which institution should lead the terrorism fight

Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, June 29, 2016

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House split on military roles in Terrorism Law

T

he House of Representatives will find it hard to complete deliberations of an amendment to the Terrorism Law, as factions are still divided over the military’s role in countering terrorism and which institution should lead the terrorism fight.

Two political parties led by retired military generals, the Democratic Party and the Hanura Party, want the Indonesian Military (TNI) to be directly involved in operations, saying that acts of terror are extraordinary crimes, thus requiring extraordinary measures to combat.

“We want the TNI to be more dominant. The amendment should mention a greater role for the military, not just the offering of assistance,” said Democratic Party faction deputy chairman Syarif Hasan, also a member of the amendment’s special committee.

One of the articles on the draft amendment regulating the TNI’s roles is Article 43B Point 1, which stipulates policies and national strategies on counterterrorism are implemented by the National Police, TNI and related institutions. It emphasizes that the TNI is only to offer assistance.

“The fight against terrorism can’t rely solely on the criminal justice system because terrorists aren’t afraid to die. We also need military action,” Committee member from Hanura, Sarifuddin Sudding, said.

Previously, the TNI requested a direct role in combating terrorism, arguing that terrorism could no longer be considered a criminal act. Under prevailing law, it is a criminal act and beyond military jurisdiction. Only law enforcement agencies that can directly tackle it.

Other factions agree that military force is needed, but there should be clear limitations.

Committee chairman Muhammad Syafi’i of the Gerindra Party said military involvement should be limited to specific coverage, including at Indonesian embassies and to secure the President and Vice President along with their families, or in any situation when terrorism threatens sovereignty. He also said it would be better to grant stronger roles to the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT). The agency can currently only uphold preventive measures, such as giving information and carrying out deradicalization programs, while operations are in the hands of the police’s Densus 88 antiterror squad.

National Mandate Party (PAN) lawmaker Hanafi Rais, the committee’s deputy chairman, suggested that the TNI and police divide their tasks. He proposed the establishment of a joint operation team comprising the police and military.

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