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Lawmakers split on TNI role in tackling drug crime
Jakarta Post - March 30, 2016
Mahfudz Siddiq, who heads House of Representatives Commission I overseeing intelligence, defense and foreign affairs, said the military did not need to enter the civilian realm and should only focus on combating drug use in its own ranks. "So far, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and National Police are enough to deal with drug cases," the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician said on Tuesday.
Commission I deputy chairman TB Hasanuddin of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the TNI had no legal basis for interfering with civilian matters and combating drug criminals, as its duty was only to defend the country.
"If they directly take action against civilians, it means they are violating the law. Combating drugs is part of the task of law enforcers, such as the police, not the military. If they want to act like a law enforcement institution, we need to deal first with the regulations," Hasanuddin said.
He went on to say that it was almost impossible to revise the military law because it would collide and contradict with other laws related to law enforcement. However, he added, the TNI were permitted to support the work of the police in certain situations, such as in conducting arrests.
The idea to open the door for the military to join the war on drugs was brought up by BNN chief Budi Waseso on Monday. He said the government should enlist military force in eradicating drug criminals in response to the drug emergency.
"If the state declared a war against drug crime, it means we are in a state of war, in which the military also has the authority to engage," Budi said as quoted by news agency Antara.
According to him, TNI personnel could help detention officers guard convicts. He cited the TNI's good performance outside their military tasks, such as teaching in remote areas and helping the government accelerate the construction of road projects in Papua.
Budi contended that drug cases posed a "threat" to national security, as drug smugglers often traveled in and out of the country, so repressive action by the TNI would be acceptable.
He said cooperation between the BNN and the TNI could take the form of BNN providing data on targets to the TNI, so that the latter could take action. It could be like the "Petrus [mysterious shooters] killings", Budi said, referring to the execution-style killings committed between 1982 and 1985.
"Why do I think so? Because we don't need to humanize drug smugglers, as they don't humanize other people," Budi said.
Golkar Party lawmaker Adies Kadir agreed that the drug emergency had become a threat to the country, thus requiring extraordinary actions. "Drug smugglers are more dangerous than terrorists, because they destroy and kill younger generations slowly, so it's no longer only a civilian problem," Adies said.
Another Golkar politician, Meutya Hafid, said the police could request help from the TNI if needed, so could the BNN, and it did not matter, as long as it did not disturb the TNI's main duty.
"Nothing's wrong with the BNN's idea. The BNN must know what and when it needs. Moreover, asking help from the military doesn't always relate to weaponry use. It can be exchanging information," Meutya said.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/30/lawmakers-split-tni-role-tackling-drug-crime.html.
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