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BNPT asks for budget increase in 2017 for more counterterrorism programs
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The head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian, speaks during a working meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission III that oversees legal affairs on Wednesday. In the meeting Tito requested a budget increase for 2017 to support the BNPT's counterterrorism programs. (Antara/M. Agung Rajasa)
T
he National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) requested an over-50 percent increase in its 2017 budget to Rp 826.38 billion (US$62.5 million) on the back of intensifying deradicalization and additional counterterrorism programs.
The proposed increase from the 2016 budget of Rp 531.91 billion, was announced by BNPT chief Comr. Gen. Tito Karnavian during a working meeting with the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs.
The additional budget is to maximize the agency's efforts in a number of programs such as counter-ideology programs, deradicalization, intelligence monitoring, as well as terrorism mitigation program for the Indonesian Military (TNI), police and other related institutions, he said.
Moreover, the BNPT also planned to operate a working committee to counter foreign terrorist fighters, protect citizens from radicalism, tackle terrorism from abroad and strengthen law enforcement.
Commission III members agreed to find a way to increase the BNPT budget in order to improve the agency's capabilities in countering terrorism.
Countering radicalism
Both the House and the BNPT also discussed the development of maximum security prisons aimed to stem the spread of radical ideology, as well as the planning of attacks from cells.
The BNPT proposed special treatment for high risk terrorist convicts to prevent the aforementioned risks, such as optimizing security and limiting their number of visitors, Tito said in the meeting.
He cited the example of the terrorist attack in Jakarta, in January, as the plot was allegedly initiated by convicted terrorist Amman Abdurahman, who had previously been incarcerated on the Nusakambangan prison island in Central Java.
"I want [the prisoners] to be separated. We are still deciding where the place will be as there are a number of options," Tito said adding that he believed the prison should be located in a secluded island with limited access.
Moreover, the BNPT would also develop a cyber patrol to monitor the dissemination of radical teachings through the internet as part of the prevention programs.
Radicalism spreading through the internet and social media has the potential to create lone wolf terrorists, as well as support the growth of terrorist networks. The BNPT was currently working on online-based programs to counter the propaganda and curb the spread of radicalism.
Herman Herry, a Commission III lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), urged for the cyber monitoring to be applied immediately since existing intelligence measures could not effectively tackle internet-based radicalization.
"Build a reliable cyber system so that the technology can help the BNPT, which currently lacks human resources," Herry said. (rin)
