"The involvement of the TNI is to be regulated in the revision of Law No. 15 of 2003 on the Eradication of Terrorism. It does not weaken but strengthen the synergistic handling of terrorism," Deputy House Speaker Agus Hermanto said at the Parliament Building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He stated that the involvement of TNI is positive because it gives a nuance and an accurate view that the TNI institution has knowledge on intelligence and terrorism.
Therefore, according to him, when a problem is left to experts, it would much better be resolved.
"We know that police has the expertise and the military has it too. If these two institutions involve in synergistic work, the handling will be faster, sooner, and will be the best," he remarked.
He believed that the discussion and revision of the Law on terrorism will soon be accomplished and be passed into law, because the legal framework is needed as a legal umbrella for the eradication of terrorism.
The deputy house speaker hoped that with the new terrorism law, the handling of terrorism would be more appropriate as early action is necessary in the case of terror.
"We cannot be too late in dealing with it, because we need to handle a terrorism case from the beginning till the case is tracked," he revealed.
Earlier, Chairman of Commission III Bambang Soesatyo pointed out that the TNI should not be involved in handling and taking actions against terrorism, because it is a setback to the way of thinking and is counterproductive to the reform agenda.
"Security sector reform in the country should continue to move forward by showing consistency in civil law approach in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure," Bambang stated in Jakarta on Monday (May 29).
He considered the role of each element of the nation to be proportionate in dealing with terrorism in accordance with laws and regulations and the degree of the challenge.
Therefore, according to him, the need for military contribution in the fight against terrorism is not automatic or permanently included in the Law on Combating Terrorism.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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