Jakarta, Jan 18, 2016 (Antara)- The terror attack in the heart of Jakarta on January 14 has prompted Indonesian authorities to step up security measures across the country, particularly at public facilities, such as airports and seaports.
Eight people, including one Canadian and four perpetrators were killed, and 24 others injured, comprising five police officers, one Dutch national, one Austrian, one German and one Algerian, in the attack by a radical group led by Bahrun Naim, allegedly linked to ISIS.
Upon receiving the attack report, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expressed his condemnation and ordered the police to arrest the perpetrators.
"I have ordered the National Police chief and the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs minister to chase down and arrest the suspects, both those on the scene and other members of the networks," President Jokowi told the press.
The transportation ministry has instructed the security status at the nation's airports be raised to yellow, following the terror attacks in Jakarta.
"Security at airports has been beefed up, and I will not as yet revoke the status," Transport Minister Ignasius Jonan said in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, recently.
Apart from imposing the yellow alert, security at PT Angkasa Pura I, the operator of the Sultan Hasanuddin airport in Makassar, has been increased by tightening checks on passenger cars and belongings, as well as people entering the airport, the company's security manager Sugiono said.
Further, Chief of the Operation Command II of the Air Force, First Marshal Dody Trisunu, said he would back up the airport's Avsec (aviation security service) to increase security in the region of the airport.
Increasing alertness is crucial because terrorist bases have spread to some regions of Indonesia, according to Head of National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Saud Usman Nasution.
"The bases vary in some regions. There are some in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, and East Java, apart from Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and even in Maluku," Saud said at the Coordinating Ministry of Politic, Law and Security Affairs building in Jakarta on Jan. 15.
The seeds of terrorism have grown in the conflicted region in the eastern part of Indonesia, Saud added.
Following the Jakarta bombing, the anti-terror detachment Densus 88 arrested some suspected terrorists in Bekasi in West Java, Tegal in Central Java, Cirebon in West Java, Depok in West Java, and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan.
The authority also confiscated some items attributed to ISIS during the arrest in Cirebon.
The police anti-terrorist squad also arrested five people in connection with the terror attacks from the villages of Langgen and Talang, in the district of Tegal, Central Java on Jan. 15.
In Poso, Central Sulawesi, police were involved in a gunfight with suspected members of a terrorist group on Jan, 15, leading to the death of a terrorist suspect.
"One member of the armed group was killed and his body is still being evacuated," Poso district police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Rony Suseno said.
He said the shootout occurred following an ambush, after police received information about a camp used since 2016 by suspected terrorists.
Ronny said 60 personnel from the police and military had been deployed in the operation, spread out at six locations, while the number of armed members of the terrorist group led by Santoso, who is the leader of the Laskar Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (Eastern Indonesia Mujahidin Troops), was estimated at 15.
The authorities has also blocked some social media accounts and radical sites, including Facebook accounts under the names of Muhammad Subkhan Khalid, Batalion Inghimasi, and Mujahidah Sungai Eufrat.
The Communication and Informatics Ministry has also blocked http:// telegram.me/jihadmedia01, bahrunaim.co, dawlahislamiyyah.wordpress.com, and keabsahankhilafah.blogspot.co.id, for supporting terror actions.
BNPT Saud Usman said terrorists who launched attacks in Jakarta last week had targeted foreigners and law enforcers, claiming revenge as their motive.
"We had been informed that they would conduct an 'orchestra' (attack) and told the security apparatus in the field to be alert, because they were, indeed, going to be targeted," he said.
Coordinating Minister for Law, Security and Political Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said he strongly hopes the parliament (DPR) agrees on revisions of the law on terrorism to give greater authority to the country's security agents to prevent terror attacks.
Under the present law, security agents could not do much to prevent terror, as they are not allowed to detain suspects without sufficient evidence, Luhut said.
"Currently, the BNPT is harmonizing the law and we hope DPR would offer a positive response," he said on Jan. 15.
Luhut said one important point in the proposed revision is the authority for security agents to arrest suspects as a preventive measure.
He said revisions are also proposed to a number of regulations on prevention and rehabilitation.
Furthermore, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chairman Sutiyoso has sought a revision of the law on intelligence to grant greater authority to the agency to hunt down and arrest terrorists.
However, Deputy Chairman of Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) Tantowi Yahya remarked that the BIN was mainly tasked with providing early detection and preventive measures, instead of making arrests.
The BIN should provide crucial intelligence information to the Police and the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), which will follow up by carrying out actions and legal enforcement, he stated.
Tantowi Yahya urged the government to intensify coordination among relevant institutions in fighting terrorism, rather than revising the existing law on intelligence.
"I consider it necessary to improve coordination among the relevant ministries and institutions. In its absence, it would not work optimally and would not have any effect," Tantowi said on Jan. 18.
Law No. 17 of 2011 on state intelligence is relatively new and has been designed as a long-term counter-terrorism program, he noted.
It is futuristic and could anticipate terror threats that could endanger the country's survival, the lawmaker explained.
"It is not necessary to revise the law on intelligence as it is still good and just needs to be implemented," he stated. ***2***
(f001/INE/H-YH)
(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 18-01-2016 22:26:38
(f001/INE/H-YH)
(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 18-01-2016 22:26:38
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