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Lawmakers want military to combat terrorists and drug traffickers

Jakarta Post - March 19, 2016

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Jakarta – Lawmakers want the Indonesian Military to play a broader role, beyond just international defense, and assist in the battle against terrorism and drugs, a House of Representatives member said.

Member of the House Mahfudz Siddiq said the military should help police to deal with global security issues such as terrorism, separatism and drug trafficking, in order to make efforts more effective. "The military must be involved more [in helping police to enforce the law]," Mahfudz told reporters recently.

Since the Jakarta terrorism attack on Jan. 14, the government has sent thousands of special troops to Poso in Central Sulawesi to join a police counterterrorism operation, chasing the country's most-wanted terrorist Santoso, the leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT).

Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Panjaitan has called previously for the military to play a role in counterterrorism efforts. "One of the military's additional jobs is to fight against terrorism," he said. (vps/dan)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/19/lawmakers-want-military-combat-terrorists-and-drug-traffickers.html.