Legislators Want Security Threats Exposed
Wednesday, 28 February, 2007 | 14:50 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Andreas Parera, a member of the Defense Commission of the House of Representatives (DPR), has protested about Gen. Djoko Santoso, the Indonesian Army Chief of Staff, for not publicizing his statement regarding national security threats.

It is considered that members of the general public need to know about these threats.

“If this is to be off the record, then I will leave the meeting,” said Andreas during a hearing at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, yesterday (27/2).

According to Andreas, the hearing was in fact an opportunity for public announcements.

Djoko was asked not to be worried over naming other countries if in fact these threatened national security.

“Because the activities that provoke Indonesia are continuing,” said Andreas.

He made his protest about Djoko’s statement during an open meeting yesterday.

Djoko stated that there were groups that wanted to separate themselves from the unitary state of Indonesia.

Based on analysis by Indonesian Military (TNI) intelligence, he said, these groups existed in Aceh, Maluku and Papua.

“There is a group in Aceh that still has strong ambitions for separation,” he said.

However, “The army is still looking into the political dynamic there.”

According to Djoko, such ambitions exist not only in Aceh, but also Papua and Maluku.

He mentioned the United West Papua National Council for Independence, the Maluku Sovereignty Front and the raising of the South Maluku Republic flag.

Djoko also said he considered that trespassers in Kalimantan, Papua and East Nusa Tenggara were a threat.

Foreign intelligence can make use of trespassers from West and East Kalimantan to Sabah, Malaysia.

The other threats are illegal logging, illegal drugs and narcotics smuggling as well as weapon smuggling in Aceh, Riau, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua.

Dian Yuliastuti