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Government forms anti-extortion task force
According to the senior security minister, the new task force is part of a governtment clampdown on rampant extortion involving mass organizations that he described as a threat to national stability.
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Budi Gunawan (left, front), a former chief of the State Intelligence Agency, shakes hands with President Prabowo Subianto during his inauguration as coordinating political and security minister on Oct. 21, 2024, at the State Palace in Central Jakarta. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
T
he government has launched a new task force to tackle the growing issue of members of certain mass organizations extorting and imposing illegal levies on businesses, which has severely impacted the local business climate and deterred foreign investment.
Coordinating Politics and Security Minister Budi Gunawan said the illicit practice had become a serious threat to the country’s stability, emphasizing that any disruption to public order must be eradicated because security was the bedrock of both national development and economic growth.
“The government will not hesitate to take firm action against all forms of thuggery,” Budi said on Tuesday, as quoted by Kompas.com. “We will also address the activities of ormas [mass organizations] that create public unrest or jeopardize investment and business operations.”
The task force was formed followed a high-level coordination meeting between key institutions and agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office, the Home Ministry, the Investment Ministry, the Law Ministry, the Indonesian Military, the National Police, the State Intelligence Agency and the National Cyber and Encryption Agency.
The anti-extortion task force has both supervisory and enforcement authorities, with the capacity to take direct action against any group or individual involved in extortion, illegal levies and other illicit activities that involve the use of coercion or force.
The public is encouraged to participate actively in fostering a safe and orderly society by reporting any incidents of extortion they encounter.
As part of this broader move, the National Police have been conducting an operation since May 1 that targets individuals and groups engaged in extortion.
