HOPES PINNED ON NEW CHIEF OF COUNTERTERRORISM AGENCY SUHARDI ALIUS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 20, 2016 (Antara) - Hopes are already riding on Commissioner General Suhardi Alius shortly after his inauguration as new chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

        Alius, a graduate of the Police Academy's 1985 batch, succeeded Tito Karnavian, who was promoted to the post of National Police chief on July 13, 2016.    
   President Jokowi called Alius for a meeting after his inauguration at the State Palace on July 20, 2016.

        "According to the president's directives, terrorism is no longer merely a national but already a global threat. It means that we should implement systematic measures to strongly counter it. Of course, it should be within the framework of pluralism and nationalism," Alius said.
   Earlier, Police Chief General Karnavian had expressed belief in Alius' capability, as he had good managerial and leadership skills, among other qualities.

        "He has also established excellent relations with Islamic mass organizations, activists, civil society, TNI (Indonesian Defense Forces), the National Police, and other institutions. His interpersonal skills are amazing," Karnavian pointed out. 

   He made assurance that Alius was capable of carrying out his duties despite not having joined the Police's counter-terrorism squad Special Detachment (Densus) 88 or BNPT.

        "I have trust in his capability. He has frequently engaged with his foreign counterparts while heading the Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) and when he studied abroad. This will help him in dealing with terrorism as the BNPT chief," the general said following the inauguration of the new BNPT chief.

         Alius is a brilliant general and was always among the top three officers while studying at the Police Academy, the Police Higher Education, and the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas)'s leadership course, he remarked.

       "He was in Lemhannas in 2011 with me. Among the 80 participants, he ranked second. He discussed terrorism," Tito Karniavan recalled, adding that Alius had access to Densus 88 when he was heading Bareskrim.

        As coordinator of the Police Chief's expert staff members, Alius had often facilitated counter-terrorism activities, he pointed out.

         Furthermore, the Police Chief expressed hope that the new BNPT chief will strengthen regional relations with his counterparts in neighboring countries.   

   
"We hope he will strengthen regional relations. There are terror networks in Malaysia and in the Philippines, there is Abu Sayyaf. Thailand was attacked. I believe he is capable of promoting regional cooperation," Karnavian stated after attending the inauguration ceremony. 
   Alius's appointment was lauded by Deputy Chairman of the Commission III of the House of Representatives Mulfachri Harahap.

       "I think Mr Suhardi is one of the best high-ranking police officers and has several achievements to his credit," he pointed out.

         Harahap hoped the new chief will prioritize preventive measures and will optimize intelligence services to detect terror groups or threats.

         Another lawmaker, Fadli Zon, suggested applying a more holistic approach while conducting counterterrorism activities in Indonesia as terrorism was basically an act of crime, which was triggered by three factors.

       "The first is the domestic factor that includes poverty, low level of education, and injustice with regard to the law enforcement process," Fadli Zon, who is Deputy House Speaker, explained.

       The second factor is an international one as terrorist groups have strong global networks to support their logistic and funding requirements, as well as emotional ties.

       Zon said the third factor concerns the cultural aspect as several community groups still exist that have a narrow thought process while interpreting religious teachings.

       Therefore, terrorism could not merely be dealt through repression but also through preventive actions, Zon emphasized.

       The manner in which the criminal justice system handles terror groups should also be backed by economic, social, and cultural approaches as part of the preventive measures, he stated.

        In the meantime, Alius vowed to strengthen deradicalization and anti-radicalization programs as measures to eradicate terrorism.

        The deradicalization program will target those familiar will or following the radical ideology, while the anti-radicalization program is meant for those who have not been influenced by radicalism.

    
"We will optimize (the programs). We will embrace all, including NGOs, mass organizations, and prominent religious figures. The religious community will also be involved," Alius emphasized.

         Persuasive actions will be prioritized in dealing with terrorism, in addition to tough actions to repress terrorists, Alius, whose previous posts included chief secretary of Lemhannas, head of the Police's Crime Investigation Department, and former deputy chief of the Jakarta Police, stated.

           He also pledged to carry forward the programs implemented by his predecessor, Tito Karnavian.

         Born in Jakarta on May 10, 1962, Suhardi Alius is an intellectual policeman, whose career has been on the upswing ever since he joined the Police.

          Alius had earlier held several posts related to criminal investigations, including as the Jakarta Police's director of general criminal investigations, and as director-in-charge of certain crimes at the Police Headquarters' Bareskrim.

        He also served as the head of the Police Headquarters' Public Relations Division, and later the West Java Provincial Police chief.

        The Seroja Award was bestowed on Alius for being the best graduate at Lemhannas.

          Alius holds a master's degree in law from the Yogyakarta-based University of Gadjah Mada and speaks English and German fluently.

         He has also attended police courses abroad - in Germany, Las Vegas in the United States, Lyon in France, Bangkok in Thailand, Perth and Sydney in Australia, Vancouver in Canada, and Cambodia, among others.

         The Commissioner General has also authored two books --- "The Future of Indonesian Forests" and "Turn the Police Services from Leadership to Subordination" --- in which he revealed about venturing sometimes into the field in disguise as an ordinary civilian to check and monitor the performance of his staff while they were on duty.

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20-07-2016 18:21:43