"The socio-economic impacts of the coronavirus disease pandemic potentially affect security and public order in communities across Indonesia," Deputy Chief of National Police Coms. Gen. Gatot Eddy informed legislators here on Wednesday.
Of the security and public order issues to potentially impact Indonesia, Eddy has estimated a spike in radicalism, intolerance, and demonstrations that may disrupt national stability and security.
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Drug trafficking and smuggling, corruption, cybercrimes, and conventional crimes have also become real threats to Indonesia in 2021, he remarked during a hearing session with members of the House of Representatives' (DPR's) Commission III overseeing legal affairs.
The police also placed social conflicts and hoodlumism-spurred acts on the list of threats to the country's security, he noted, adding that certain criminals were capitalizing on the swift developments in digital technology to commit crimes.
In 2021, Indonesia will host several international events, including the MotoGP Indonesia 2021, U-20 World Cup, National Games (PON), Bali's Asia Pacific Summit and Forum, Asia Conference and Exhibition, and Global Magellans Network Cities, he remarked.
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ANTARA highlighted the repeated incidents of assaults by suspected terrorists on police personnel and attacks by armed Papuan rebels on civilians this year.
On May 22, notorious armed rebels reportedly shot at two medical workers -- Almalek Bagau and Eunico Somou -- from the Wandai Health Center in Intan Jaya District, Papua Province, while they were delivering drugs for COVID-19 patients.
In another incident on June 1, a lone wolf assaulted Brigadier Leonardo Latupapua, a policeman of the Daha Selatan police precinct in South Kalimantan Province. Latupapua succumbed to grave injuries following the early morning attack.
On June 21, a man unexpectedly attacked Second Brigadier Hanif Ariyono, a driver of Deputy Chief of Karanganyar Police Commissioner Busroni's official vehicle, with a machete in Karanganyar District, Central Java Province.
Since 2000, Indonesia has become the target of terrorist attacks, and the spread of radicalism and terrorism continues to threaten the nation.
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Translator: Imam B, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
