Bogor, W Java (Antara Megapolitan) - The custodial death of Siyono has rung alarm bells in Indonesia about the country's counter-terrorism strategy amid fears that the police's anti-terror squad may have abused its powers while handling suspected militants.
Siyono's death while in the custody of the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 triggered a public uproar over human rights violations in Indonesia's war on terror.
Siyono, who was arrested by the anti-terror squad personnel on March 9, 2016, was alleged to be the leader of Jamaah Islamiyah in Klaten, Central Java, and suspected of being involved in unlawful activities.
Following the incident, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Fadli Zon warned the squad's personnel not to ignore the principle of presumption of innocence while capturing any terror suspect.
Fadli Zon acknowledged that terrorism is a crime against humanity but emphasized the importance of avoiding any abuse of power, lest it leads to human rights violations.
Apart from the internal investigation being conducted by the National Police to determine who was responsible for Siyono's death, the violent acts of Densus 88 unit against suspected terrorists have come in for frequent criticism by international media.
Three years before the latest Siyono case, The Guardian, an influential publication in the United Kingdom, had exposed the violent acts of Densus 88 against suspected terrorists.
In a news story titled, "Indonesia's US-Funded Anti-Terror Police Accused of Fuelling Terrorism," The Guardian had reported that Densus 88 tended to terminate the terror suspects rather than trying to capture them alive.
As a result of such tactics, it becomes difficult to end the cycle of violence. Haris Azhar, chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), was cited by The Guardian as having argued that "it seems the police brutality contributed to the growth of terrorism" in Indonesia.
This is a challenge that Inspector General Tito Karnavian, the new chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), needs to respond to. President Joko Widodo inducted him to the new office at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
As per Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Tito Karnavian was the right person for the job, given his experience as the former chief of the Densus 88 before he was promoted as the chief of the Papua Provincial Police and then of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police.
Amid fierce criticism by human rights activists of the way Densus 88 handled terror suspects, Tito Karnavian disagreed with calls to dissolve this anti-terror squad.
He argued that the scrapping of Densus 88 would pave the way for radical groups in the country to operate more freely. "Although they are being curbed now, they are still free," Karnavian told journalists after his inauguration.
Densus 88 has complete data on terror networks in Indonesia, unlike other agencies, he said.
In other words, the government needs to maintain Densus 88 and support its counter-terrorism efforts. However, like other state and governmental agencies, this anti-terror squad is also subject to evaluation.
Several members of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs and security deplored Siyono's death in Densus 88's custody.
Desmond Junaidi Mahesa, deputy chairman of the House's Commission III, hinted that Densus 88 would be summoned in connection with the Siyono case.
Nasir Djamil, member of the House's Commission III, said he would ask about this anti-terror squad's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding the capture of suspected militants and handling of terrorism-related cases.
"The death of Siyono reminded me of the torture that five people experienced following their wrongful arrests in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2013," he said.
Djamil said the National Police's anti-terror squad had frequently resorted to torturing the captured terror suspects.
Therefore, as a member of the House's special committee for anti-terrorism law amendment, Djamil hinted that the House's Commission III would tighten the procedures for arrest in the revised anti-terrorism bill.
The threat of terrorism is a convincing reality in Indonesia, and a real challenge for the state and the entire nation.
In an effort to win the war on terror, Tito Karnavian's appointment as the chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency has provided the nation with a ray of hope for more humane treatment of terror suspects during custody and imprisonment, as well as after their release. (Ant).
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Megapolitan 2016
Siyono's death while in the custody of the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 triggered a public uproar over human rights violations in Indonesia's war on terror.
Siyono, who was arrested by the anti-terror squad personnel on March 9, 2016, was alleged to be the leader of Jamaah Islamiyah in Klaten, Central Java, and suspected of being involved in unlawful activities.
Following the incident, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Fadli Zon warned the squad's personnel not to ignore the principle of presumption of innocence while capturing any terror suspect.
Fadli Zon acknowledged that terrorism is a crime against humanity but emphasized the importance of avoiding any abuse of power, lest it leads to human rights violations.
Apart from the internal investigation being conducted by the National Police to determine who was responsible for Siyono's death, the violent acts of Densus 88 unit against suspected terrorists have come in for frequent criticism by international media.
Three years before the latest Siyono case, The Guardian, an influential publication in the United Kingdom, had exposed the violent acts of Densus 88 against suspected terrorists.
In a news story titled, "Indonesia's US-Funded Anti-Terror Police Accused of Fuelling Terrorism," The Guardian had reported that Densus 88 tended to terminate the terror suspects rather than trying to capture them alive.
As a result of such tactics, it becomes difficult to end the cycle of violence. Haris Azhar, chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), was cited by The Guardian as having argued that "it seems the police brutality contributed to the growth of terrorism" in Indonesia.
This is a challenge that Inspector General Tito Karnavian, the new chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), needs to respond to. President Joko Widodo inducted him to the new office at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.
As per Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Tito Karnavian was the right person for the job, given his experience as the former chief of the Densus 88 before he was promoted as the chief of the Papua Provincial Police and then of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police.
Amid fierce criticism by human rights activists of the way Densus 88 handled terror suspects, Tito Karnavian disagreed with calls to dissolve this anti-terror squad.
He argued that the scrapping of Densus 88 would pave the way for radical groups in the country to operate more freely. "Although they are being curbed now, they are still free," Karnavian told journalists after his inauguration.
Densus 88 has complete data on terror networks in Indonesia, unlike other agencies, he said.
In other words, the government needs to maintain Densus 88 and support its counter-terrorism efforts. However, like other state and governmental agencies, this anti-terror squad is also subject to evaluation.
Several members of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs and security deplored Siyono's death in Densus 88's custody.
Desmond Junaidi Mahesa, deputy chairman of the House's Commission III, hinted that Densus 88 would be summoned in connection with the Siyono case.
Nasir Djamil, member of the House's Commission III, said he would ask about this anti-terror squad's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding the capture of suspected militants and handling of terrorism-related cases.
"The death of Siyono reminded me of the torture that five people experienced following their wrongful arrests in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 2013," he said.
Djamil said the National Police's anti-terror squad had frequently resorted to torturing the captured terror suspects.
Therefore, as a member of the House's special committee for anti-terrorism law amendment, Djamil hinted that the House's Commission III would tighten the procedures for arrest in the revised anti-terrorism bill.
The threat of terrorism is a convincing reality in Indonesia, and a real challenge for the state and the entire nation.
In an effort to win the war on terror, Tito Karnavian's appointment as the chief of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency has provided the nation with a ray of hope for more humane treatment of terror suspects during custody and imprisonment, as well as after their release. (Ant).
Editor : M. Tohamaksun
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Megapolitan 2016