Government Asked to Evaluate Intelligence Communities
Wednesday, 23 April, 2008 | 16:34 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The government is being asked to evaluate the establishment of regional intelligence communities, as these are considered a threat against democracy and a misuse of regional autonomy power.

“This could violate the principles of power division and good governance,” Al-Araf, a human rights activist from Imparsial, told reporters at his office yesterday.

Imparsial said that the establishment of regional intelligence communities is regulated by the Home Affairs Ministerial Regulation 11/2006, and that there had been some misinterpretations over this regulation.

For example, the establishment of such a community is to ensure cooperation between intelligence agencies.

But article seven states that the community should also search for and collect information on possible threats.

This, according to Imparsial, is against the main purpose of the establishment of these communities.

Moreover, articles three and four mention that the deputy governor, deputy regent or deputy mayor are to be the heads of these intelligence communities, and this has the potential for making regional bureaucracy part of intelligence activities.

“Can you imagine that when you are making an ID card, you are dealing with an intelligence agent?” said Al-Araf,.

Tempo has not yet been able to contact Saut Situmorang, spokesperson of the Home Affairs Department.

The regulation about these intelligence communities can be accessed at the Home Affairs Department’s website.

Happy Bone Zulkarnain, a Member of the Defense Commission at the House of Representatives (DPR), said that these intelligence communities should not be continued.

The government should just stop them.

Anton Septian