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Too close for comfort? BNPT wary of military’s proposed counterterrorism role
“Everything should be done according to the rule of law,” BNPT law enforcement deputy head Eddy Hartono said on Wednesday
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Personnel from the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police participate in a joint counterterrorism training operation at the East Java Police’s Mobile Brigade headquarters in Malang, East Java, on May 18. (Antara/Ari Bowo Sucipto)
T
he National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has said it welcomes the government’s plan to allow the Indonesian Military (TNI) to involve itself in the country’s fight against terrorism but has warned that the military must abide by the Terrorism Law, which requires it to maintain a “coordinating role” in such efforts.
BNPT law enforcement deputy head Eddy Hartono said the TNI should engage in counterterrorism in a way that aligned with its functions and duties according to the 2004 TNI Law.
The law gives the military the authority to ward off threats to the country’s sovereignty and restore security after a security disturbance.
Eddy expressed his hope that the TNI would not challenge the BNPT’s authority as the sole body responsible for the coordination of law enforcement agencies in counterterrorism efforts, as stipulated in the 2018 Terrorism Law.
“The BNPT will definitely welcome military involvement in countering terrorism, but that move should also be in line with the TNI Law and the 2018 Terrorism Law,” Eddy said during a webinar on Wednesday. “Everything should be done according to the rule of law.”
Read also: Civil-military relations in countering terrorism in Indonesia
The 2018 Terrorism Law requires the government to issue a presidential regulation (Perpres) if it intends to allow the military to partake in counterterrorism efforts, which are considered military operations other than war. A draft of such a Perpres was publicly circulated in May.
