TNI Unauthorized to Handle Terrorism

VIVAnews - Despite being involved in terrorist handling, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is not authorized to arrest terrorist suspects. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Admiral (Ret.) Widodo AS said that the mechanism and procedures to cope with terrorism have been set up.

"Upholding the law is in the hands of the Indonesian Police," said Widodo AS during the opening of a joint anti-terror exercise between the Indonesian Military and the Indonesian Police at Bhayangkara Field, Indonesian Police HQs, Jakarta, on Friday, Dec 19.

However, the regulation is not rigid. According to Widodo, the Indonesian Military's involvement in handling terrorism depends on the situation. Widodo cited the recent Mumbai terror, India.

"Indonesian Military and Indonesian Police are planning to create a mechanism for a standard operational procedure," he said.

The Indonesian Military and the Indonesian Police set up a joint anti-terror and security disturbance exercise involving 7,000 military and police officers.

Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono