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Counterterrorism task force formation enters final stage: BNPT
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The fight against terrorism – The National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism squad ‘neutralize’ suspected terrorists in a simulation exercise at the East Java Police headquarters in Surabaya, East Java, recently. (JP/Wahyoe Boediwardhana)
T
he National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has said the process of establishing a government-initiated permanent joint task force to increase cooperation between related institutions in counterterrorism efforts has entered its final stage.
BNPT chief Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius said the task force establishment draft had been submitted to the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister and the agency was currently waiting for the signing of the draft by the security chief, Wiranto.
"Once it is signed, we will gather [all related ministries] in a meeting where I will instruct all officials about their roles [in curbing the spread of radicalism]," Suhardi told journalists on Wednesday.
The counterterrorism chief said he would soon submit the details of the task force, including its budget and authorities, to House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs, as requested by lawmaker Wenny Warouw during a recent hearing with the BNPT.
Led by the BNPT, the task force will consist of 17 governmental institutions such as the National Police, Indonesian Military (TNI), Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), Social Affairs Ministry, the Education and Culture Ministry as well as the Communications and Information Ministry.
The task force's establishment is to follow up the recommendations of the 2016 International Meeting on Counter-Terrorism (IMCT) in Bali in August to accelerate the country’s efforts to prevent the spread of radicalism. (ebf)
