National Counter Terrorism Agency

Last updated
National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT)
Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme
Logo Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme.png
Agency overview
Formed2010 (2010)
Preceding agency
  • Counter-Terrorism Coordination Desk
Jurisdiction Flag of Indonesia.svg Indonesia
Agency executive
  • Pol. Com. Gen. Rycko Amelza Dahniel, Chief
Parent department Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs
Website bnpt.go.id

The National Counter Terrorism Agency (Indonesian : Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme abbreviated as BNPT) is an Indonesian non-ministerial government department that works to prevent terrorism. BNPT is headed by a chief, who is responsible to the President. When it was first launched, the leader of BNPT held the ranking of a civil servant but the Presidential Regulation in 2012 elevated the post of BNPT Chief to the ministerial level. [1]

Contents

BNPT was formed based on the 46th Presidential Regulation of 2010. The predecessor of this agency was Counter-Terrorism Coordinating Desk (Desk Koordinasi Pemberantasan Terorisme abbreviated as DKPT). [1]

Its stated missions involve prevention terrorism and radicalism through efforts to work with government institutions and the community including prevention, protection, prosecution and de-radicalization of terrorism in Indonesia. [2]

In 2015, Indonesia was taken out of the 'Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories' (NCCTs) list by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Indonesia now has the same advantages and status as G20 countries. The exit proves that BNPT is committed to preventing terrorism by combating financial crimes through the implementation of Law No.9/2013. [3]

Function

BNPT is responsible for: [1]

The organizational structure

BNPT's organizational structure consists of: [4]

Chiefs

No.NameYears in position
1
 Inspector General Ansyaad Mbai
2010–2014
2
 Saud Usman BNPT.jpg Commissioner General Saud Usman Nasution
2014–2016
3
 Tito Karnavian.jpg Commissioner General Tito Karnavian
2016
4
 Suhardi Alius BNPT.jpg Commissioner General Suhardi Alius
2016–2020
5
 Irjen. Pol. Drs. Boy Rafli Amar.jpg Commissioner General Boy Rafli Amar [5]
2020–2023
6
 Kalemdiklat Polri Komjen Polisi Rycko Amelza Dahniel.jpg Commissioner General Rycko Amelza Dahniel
2023-incumbent

Terrorism in Indonesia

Religious-based terrorism

Religious terrorism is the act of terrorism carried out with religion as the main motivation and goal. Since the late 1960s, religious extremism has been especially prominent among the Muslim communities. [6] Social psychologist M. Brooke Rogers and others wrote that extremist religious fundamentalism can be closely linked to carrying out acts of violence and terror in the name of revenge or honor. [7]  According to J. Dingley and M. Kirk-Smith, the act of sacrifice itself can act as a bridge between violence and religion. Cultural, social, and religious background plays a crucial role in birthing religious terrorism, especially groups that stemmed out from specific geographical areas. [8]

Terrorist groups in Indonesia

Jemaah Islamiah (JI)

Jemaah Islamiah was established in 1993 by Abu Bakar Baasyir and have been linked to Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the Abu Sayyaf group. [9] Suspected group members hail from not just Indonesia, but neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Thailand. [10] JI was the group responsible behind the 2002 Bali bombings which resulted in 202 casualties. [11]

In October 2002, JI was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US Department of State. [12]

Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD)

Jemaah Ansharut Daulah is the terrorist group behind the 2018 Surabaya bombings [13] and have admitted to be associated with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. [14]  JAD commonly recruits members from Australia and Southeast Asia. In 2017, the United States declared JAD as a terrorist group, thus prohibiting US citizens from getting involved with the group and JAD's assets in the US were frozen. [15]

In July 2018, a court ruling provided legal justification for arrests of individuals associated with JAD through the establishment of Article 12A in the Terrorism Law. [16]

Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT)

Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid was established in 2008 also by Abu Bakar Baasyir and have admitted to being associated with Al-Qaeda. [17]  JAT has conducted multiple attacks targeting civilians and Indonesian officials, even causing death upon several Indonesian police. They often carry out bank robberies and other illicit activities to fund their supply of weapons. [18]

Darul Islam

Establish in the early 1940s, Darul Islam commonly used the term 'jihad' as the main reasoning behind their actions. Their ultimate goal is to establish an Islamic state in Indonesia. [19]

Incident that led to establishment

Bali bombings

On 12 October 2002, Imaam Samudara, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim and another terrorist from the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist group detonated two bombs in a popular nightclub along Kuta beach in Bali [20] and another in front of the United States Consulate in Denpasar. [11] The terrorists stated that their main goals was to kill as many Americans as possible as a form of revenge for "what Americans have done towards Muslims" as they regarded the war on terrorism as a form of religious discrimination. [21]

Amrozi has said that he regrets that he killed too many Australians instead of Americans, while in prison. [22]

Involvements

Jakarta attacks

Multiple explosions and gun related attacks in Jakarta in January 2016 resulted in 8 casualties and 24 serious injuries. The attack carried out by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) near Sarinah Mall in Central Jakarta. [23] One of the bombings was carried out in a Starbucks store close to the United Nations building which hosted multiple foreigners and expats, two of whom have been killed. [24]

Surabaya bombings

Before the Ramadhan season of 2018, a series of suicide bombings were carried out in multiple churches around Surabaya. The bombings were said to be the brainchild of Islamic State-inspired Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), or Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) groups, according to National Police chief, General Tito Karnavian. [25]

Indonesian President Joko Widodo strongly condemned the attacks and described it as an "act of cowards". [26]

University of Riau, Sumatra Island

Three university students in the University of Riau were caught with homemade explosives and had planned to carry out an attack on the local parliament of Pekanbaru, the capital of Riau. The weapons and explosives they held were seized after BNPT carried out a raid in the university. [27]

One of the suspects was identified as being part of a local terrorist group called Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), which was the group behind the 2018 Surabaya Bombings. [28]

Safety measures and efforts

University involvements

The increase in Islamic radicalism among young adults, especially those in university has been concerning. After the arrest of the three individuals from the University of Riau incident, a total of 122 universities across Indonesia have joined forces with BNPT to aid in combating terrorism stemmed from religious extremism. [29]

De-radicalization program

There are over 600 convicted criminals and terrorists who have been through the de-radicalization program that is carried out by BNPT. [30]  The leader of BNPT, Suhardi Alius, believes it is a successful effort as only 3 criminals out of the approximate 600 have gotten involved with terrorism after completing the program. [31]

Anti-terrorism laws

After the 2002 Bali bombings, the Indonesian government was quick to implement new counter-terrorism laws and amend existing laws. [32]

Law No. 5/2002

This law concerns the act of money laundering and covers 10 chapters plus 46 articles. [33] The Chapters consists of: [33]

  1. General Provisions
  2. The Crime of Money Laundering
  3. Other Criminal Acts related to the Crime of Money Laundering
  4. Reporting
  5. Centre for Financial Transactions Reporting and Analysis
  6. Investigation, Prosecution and Examination before the Courts
  7. Protection of Reporting Parties and Witnesses
  8. International Cooperation
  9. Transitional Provisions
  10. Closing Provisions

Law No. 15/2003

This law grants BNPT and other government organizations the permission to detain anyone they deem as a suspect for up to 6 months without a trail, using intelligence reports as evidence and intercept phone calls which they deem would allow them to gain access to information crucial to solving and preventing terrorism cases. [34]

Law No. 17/2011

This law concerns State Intelligence and their role to intercept and conduct surveillance on any kind of communication that they deem may potentially threaten national security. [35]

Law No. 9/2013

A stark improvement from Law No 15 of 2003 which only contained a brief idea of preventing terrorism-related transactions. The newer law was created right after the Bali bombings to fill in existing gaps in the criminalization of terrorism funding. [36]  More specifically, the law allows the government in freezing and seizing assets of suspected terrorists. [37]

Criticism

Al-Chaidar

Terrorism observer, Al-Chaidar believes the de-radicalization program is not effective and is strongly against the fact that these criminals are then released to the community. He is sure that they will get involved in terrorism acts again and that stricter laws and punishments should be imposed. [31]

John Sidel

In John Sidel's book "The Islamist Threat in Southeast Asia: A Reassessment", he states that he does not believe strong security approaches will have any effect on preventing terrorism. In fact, he is sure serious actions can potentially be more counterproductive towards efforts on terrorism prevention. [10]

Human Rights Watch

After the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism Law (the “CT Law”) was passed on May 25, 2018, Brad Adams from the Human Rights Watch wrote an open letter to President Joko Widodo and Speaker Bambang Soesatyo stating the cons of the CT Law ranging on the fact that it depended on a far-reaching definition of terrorism, to a broader imposition of the death penalty, and the violation of basic human rights. [38]

Bilveer Singh

Bilveer Singh, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, concurs that the anti-terrorism laws in Indonesia are still weak despite efforts to improve them after the events in 2002 and 2009. In his paper, he proposes various measures to aid Indonesia's battle with terrorism. [39]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jemaah Islamiyah</span> Southeast Asian salafist organization founded in 1993

Jemaah Islamiyah is a Southeast Asian Islamist militant group based in Indonesia, which is dedicated to the establishment of an Islamic state in Southeast Asia. On 25 October 2002, immediately following the JI-perpetrated Bali bombing, JI was added to the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 as a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu Bakar Ba'asyir</span>

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir also known as Abu Bakar Bashir, Abdus Somad, and Ustad Abu is an Indonesian Muslim cleric and leader of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Bali bombings</span> Terrorist attack in Indonesia

The 2005 Bali bombings were a series of terrorist suicide bomb and a series of car bombs and attacks that occurred on 1 October 2005, in Bali, Indonesia. Bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta 30 km (19 mi) away, both in south Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people and injured more than 100 others. The three bombers also died in the attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noordin Mohammad Top</span> Malaysian terrorist

Noordin Mohammad Top was a Malaysian Muslim extremist. He was also referred to as Noordin, Din Moch Top, Muh Top, Top M or Mat Top. Until his death, he was Indonesia's most wanted Islamist militant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darul Islam (Indonesia)</span> Islamist group in Indonesia

Darul Islam, also known as Darul Islam/Islamic Armed Forces of Indonesia, was an Islamist group that fought for the establishment of an Islamic state in Indonesia. It was established in 1942 by a group of Muslim militias, coordinated by a charismatic radical Muslim politician, Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo. The group recognised only Shari'a as the valid source of law. The movement has produced splinters and offshoots that range from Jemaah Islamiyah to non-violent religious groups.

On the 2000 Christmas Eve, a series of explosions took place in Indonesia, which were part of a high-scale terrorist attack by Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. The attack involved a series of coordinated bombings of churches in Jakarta and eight other cities which killed 18 people and injured many others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detachment 88</span> Indonesian anti-terrorism squad

Counterterrorism Special Detachment 88, or Densus 88, is a tier one Indonesian National Police counter-terrorism squad formed on 30 June 2003, after the 2002 Bali bombings. It is funded, equipped, and trained by the United States through the Diplomatic Security Service's Antiterrorism Assistance Program and Australia.

Mujahedeen KOMPAK or KOMPAC is a Darul Islam organisation based in Indonesia's Sulawesi province. Formed in 1988 with the stated aim of helping victims of conflict and disaster, it has been linked to providing funding for terrorist organisations such as Jemaah Islamiyah as well as carrying out attacks on local Christian groups. The organisation has been accused of diverting relief funds from mainstream Muslims in Australia and abroad to fund terrorist activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrorism in Indonesia</span>

Terrorism in Indonesia refer to acts of terrorism that take place within Indonesia or attacks on Indonesian people or interests abroad. These acts of terrorism often target the government of Indonesia or foreigners in Indonesia, most notably Western visitors, especially those from the United States and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huda bin Abdul Haq</span>

Huda bin Abdul Haq was an Indonesian terrorist who was convicted and executed for his role in coordinating the Christmas Eve 2000 Indonesia bombings and 2002 Bali bombings. Mukhlas was a senior and influential Jemaah Islamiah leader with ties to Osama bin Laden.

Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid or Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid is a splinter cell of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States. The latter is most known for perpetrating the 2002 Bali bombings along with Dr. Azahari and Noordin M. Top, both Malaysian terrorist kingpin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center</span>

The Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center or INTRAC or PPATK is a government agency of Indonesia, responsible on financial intelligence. The agency is formed in 2002 to counter suspected money laundering and provide information on terrorist financing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surabaya bombings</span>

The 2018 Surabaya bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that initially occurred on 13 May 2018 in three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of East Java province. The explosions occurred at Immaculate Saint Mary Catholic Church on Ngagel Madya Street; Indonesia Christian Church on Diponegoro Street; and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church on Arjuno Street. The first explosion took place at the SMTB Church; the second and third explosions followed within an hour.

Jamaah Ansharut Daulah is an Indonesian group that has been reported to be linked to the 2018 Surabaya bombings as well as the 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombings. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been reported as claiming responsibility for both attacks. The group had been identified by the United States Department of State as a terrorist organization in 2017. It is banned by Iraq and Indonesia. It is also listed as a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council on 4 March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Jolo Cathedral bombings</span> 2019 bombing of Jolo Cathedral in Sulu, Philippines

In the morning of January 27, 2019, two bombs exploded at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu, Philippines. Twenty people were killed and 102 others injured. The bombings took place a week after the autonomy plebiscite held on January 21 for the creation of Bangsamoro. It is believed that the attacks were carried out by the Abu Sayyaf, and the Islamic State claimed responsibility. President Rodrigo Duterte responded by issuing an "all-out war" directive against the Abu Sayyaf. The bombings were widely condemned by other countries and organizations.

The 2002 bombings in Makassar, Indonesia occurred on December 5, 2002, where a bomb exploded within inner-city McDonald's restaurant. The McDonald’s restaurant was located in the Ratu Indah shopping mall, in Makassar. These bomb actions were conducted by the Islamic group “Laskar Jundullah”, which caused death to 3 people, including the bomber himself, and injured 15 others. The leader of the group, Agung Abdul Hamid, received a jail sentence of 18 years due to the planning and execution of both the bomb and the attack in Makassar. There is police confirmation that the Islamic group, behind the McDonald's attack in Makassar, was Laskar Jundullah Islamic Militia, where many of their beliefs and values reflect and stem from those of The 'Jamaah Islamiyah' Islamic Group.

A suicide bombing was conducted in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia on 13 November 2019, targeting the city's metropolitan police (Polrestabes) headquarters. No person other than the attacker was killed in the attack, though six others were injured. The single attacker was affiliated with the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah.

Jamaah Ansharusy Syariah is an Islamist organization split from Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid. The organization described as splinter group of JAT, after Abu Bakar Ba’asyir expelled his sons and top aides from JAT following their refusal to support his pledge of support to the Islamic State (IS). JAS objective is the rival of JAT recruitment for followers in support of the full implementation of Sharia in Indonesia. JAS claimed a membership of 2,000 in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and Bengkulu.

On 7 December 2022, at around 8:20 AM Western Indonesia Time (UTC+7), a suicide bombing incident occurred at an Indonesian National Police station in Astana Anyar District, Bandung, West Java. The attacker and one police officer were killed by the explosion, while 11 people were injured including 3 police officers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tentang BNPT". Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  2. ↑ "Visi dan Misi PPID". 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  3. ↑ "Indonesia out of FATF Blacklist". Tempo. 2015-06-25. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  4. ↑ Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme (2021-06-18). "Peraturan Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme Nomor 7 Tahun 2021 tentang Organisasi Dan Tata Kerja Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme". JDIH Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme. Retrieved 2022-10-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ Halim, Devina (2020-05-06). "Resmi Menjadi Kepala BNPT, Ini Perjalanan Karier Irjen Boy Rafli Amar". Kompas (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  6. ↑ Saiya, Nilay; Fidler, Joshua (2018-03-25). "Taking God Seriously: The Struggle against Extremism". Middle East Policy. 25 (1): 80–95. doi:10.1111/mepo.12326. ISSN   1061-1924.
  7. ↑ Rogers, M. Brooke; Loewenthal, Kate M.; Lewis, Christopher Alan; Amlôt, Richard; Cinnirella, Marco; Ansari, Humayan (2007-01-01). "The role of religious fundamentalism in terrorist violence: A social psychological analysis". International Review of Psychiatry. 19 (3): 253–262. doi:10.1080/09540260701349399. ISSN   0954-0261. PMID   17566903. S2CID   22885752.
  8. ↑ Dingley, J.; Kirk-Smith, M. (2002-03-01). "Symbolism and Sacrifice in Terrorism". Small Wars & Insurgencies. 13 (1): 102–128. doi:10.1080/714005406. ISSN   0959-2318. S2CID   143826088.
  9. ↑ "1267 COMMITTEE ADDS NAME OF AN ENTITY TO ITS LIST | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  10. 1 2 Sidel, John Thayer (2007). The Islamist Threat in Southeast Asia: A Reassessment. Institute of Southeast Asian. ISBN   9789812304896.
  11. 1 2 Harris-Hogan, Shandon. "Remembering the Bali bombings ten years on". The Conversation. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  12. ↑ "Chapter 6. Foreign Terrorist Organizations". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  13. ↑ Bard Wilkinson. "Terror group JAD linked to Indonesia family suicide attacks". CNN. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  14. ↑ "Islamic State group claims deadly Indonesia church attacks". France 24. 2018-05-13. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  15. ↑ "US names Jamaah Ansharut Daulah as terrorist organization". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  16. ↑ "Court ruling gives authorities justification to arrest more JAD members". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  17. ↑ "JEMMAH ANSHORUT TAUHID (JAT) | United Nations Security Council". www.un.org. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  18. ↑ "Terrorist Designations of Jemmah Anshorut Tauhid". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  19. ↑ Solahudin; McRae, Dave (2013). The Roots of Terrorism in Indonesia: From Darul Islam to Jem'ah Islamiyah. Cornell University Press. ISBN   978-0-8014-7938-0.
  20. ↑ "Bali death toll set at 202". 2003-02-19. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  21. ↑ Spillius, Alex (2002-11-09). "Bali bombers 'were trying to kill Americans'". Daily Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  22. ↑ "Profile: Amrozi". 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  23. ↑ Topsfield, Jewel (2016-01-14). "Jakarta attacks: seven dead in multiple attacks linked to Islamic State". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  24. ↑ "As it happened: Gunmen mount terror attacks in Jakarta". ABC News. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  25. ↑ "Terrorist suicide families wreak havoc in Indonesia". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  26. ↑ "Families behind Surabaya attacks were friends, police say". ABC News. 2018-05-14. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  27. ↑ "Indonesia Raids Campus, Detains 3 Terror Suspects". VOA. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  28. ↑ hermesauto (2018-06-03). "3 held by Indonesian police over alleged terror plot on lawmakers in Riau". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  29. ↑ "Indonesian universities ramp up student monitoring to stop terrorism". Times Higher Education (THE). 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  30. ↑ Sugiharto, Jobpie (2018-05-09). "Mako Brimob Rusuh, BNPT Bicara Deradikalisasi". Tempo. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  31. 1 2 Sugiharto, Jobpie (2018-05-20). "Al Chaidar: Program Deradikalisasi Teroris BNPT Salah". Tempo. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  32. ↑ "Indonesia – Southeast Asia Security Laws | International Commission of Jurists" . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  33. 1 2 "Law of the Republic of Indonesia concerning the Crime of Money Laundering (2002) | International Commission of Jurists" . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  34. ↑ "Anti-Terrorism Law No. 15 (2003) | International Commission of Jurists" . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  35. ↑ "The Republic of Indonesia draft Law Number 17 Year 2011 on State Intelligence (2011) | International Commission of Jurists" . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  36. ↑ Price, David; Fenton, Adam (2014-06-23). "Forbidden Funds – Indonesia's New Legislation for Countering the Financing of Terrorism". Rochester, NY. SSRN   2457726.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  37. ↑ "Prevention and the Suppression of Terrorist Financing Law No. 9 (2013) | International Commission of Jurists" . Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  38. ↑ "Letter on Indonesia's New Counterterrorism Law". Human Rights Watch. 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  39. ↑ Singh, Bilveer (15 March 2016). "Revising Indonesia's Anti-Terrorism Laws" (PDF). RSiS S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. No 057 – via www.rsis.edu.sg.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.