How TNI Can be Involved in Countering Terrorism

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Defense Forces (TNI) commander General Djoko Santoso said TNI had so far received no request yet from the police to help combat terrorists.

"There has been no request so far yet but coordination is always done everyday," he said here on Saturday.      National Police chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said recently that the police planned to involve the military in case terrorists’ activity is escalating. Police have recently killed three people involved in a CIMB Niaga Bank robbery in Medan, North Sumatra, last August believed to be carried out by terrorists seeking funds to finance their activities.

Recently however three police officers were killed in Hamparan Perak, North Sumatra while on duty at their station by armed gang believed to be part of the terrorist group. General Djoko Santoso said terrorism eradication could be carried out in several stages namely detection, prevention, control, action and rehabilitation.

"TNI is ready to help in whichever of process, depending upon the request. If we are needed in the detection we will deploy our intelligence and in repression we can send anti-terror units," he said.      Terrorists seem to have never stopped seeking to conduct terrorism in various regions in the country in the past ten years. He said a total of 563 terrorists had been arrested from 2000 to 2010 while 44 others had been killed and 10 dead as suicide bombers. During the period 19 police officers have been killed during operations against the terrorists and 29 others suffered from serious injuries.