GOVT URGED TO DISSOLVE ANTI-TERROR SQUAD

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 2 (Antara) - The Police's Densus 88 anti-terror squad has been able to crack-down on terrorism in the country but a human rights violation allegedly committed by officers of the elite force has caused religious leaders to call for its dissolution.          A number of religious leaders have filed a report to the National Police and submitted a video which showed a torture of a civilian in Poso, Central Sulawesi, allegedly committed by Densus 88 officers.          "We think Densus 88 needs to be evaluated and if need be it should disbanded. A new institution, with new approach in fighting terrorism should be established," Din Syamsuddin, chairman of the country's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, said     He said that the anti-terror squad had created stigma that it had committed a gross human rights violation in its efforts to fight terrorism in the country. The fight against terrorism has been often linked to Islam so that it disadvantaged the Muslim community.          Earlier, Muslim leaders and representatives of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) met with National Police Chief Gen. Timur Pradopo to discuss the video which showed the torture of an alleged terror suspect. They argued torture of a terror suspect was a  human rights violation.          The ulemas urged the police chief to take follow up steps over the violation as indicated in the video and take stern actions against the officers.          The same voice was also aired by Deputy Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)  and Lukmnans Hakim Saefudin. He said the existence of the Police's Densus 88 anti-terror squad needed to be evaluated.         "Islamic mass organizations asked the police chief to disband Densus 88,"  Lukman Hakim Saifuddin  said on Saturday.          "The Police's Densus 88 anti-terror squad presence has so far disturbed our mind. Their acts of freely shooting and killing in fighting terrorism, for example, were viewed as violating human rights," Lukman      He said that the procedures in the fight against terror had brought Densus 88 to act at will.  Among the Muslim community, the presence of Densus 88 had caused for concerns. The anti-terror squad in fighting terror often linked terrorism with Islam and became stigma for Muslims, he said.          "This is something that discredits and disadvantages Islam and the Muslim community," Lukman said.          He suggested that the government should carry out through evaluation over the existence of the anti-terror squad.          Therefore, he said, the Police chief should take follow up step to the demand of a number of religious organization leaders to disband the institution.          "The presence of the Police's mobile brigade is enough to maintain peace and public order," he said.          In the meantime, the Indonesia Police Watch (IPW)Presidium Chairman Neta S Pane also urged police, the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) to tightly control the  Densus 88 anti-terror squad.          Neta made the appeal in connection with news that the anti-terror squad had allegedly committed violence in carrying out its task.          The IPW presidium chairman said in a press statement made available here on Saturday that practically there was so far no control over the elite police forces in carrying out their tasks.          On the other hand, people who were paranoid over terrorism issues looked as if they had given legitimate approvals to whatever acts taken by the anti-terr squad, he said.          "This condition should not be let happen because whoever in this country, including the Densus 88, may not act at will," he said.          Neta made the statement in connection with a video showing the torture of a civilian strongly believed to be done by Densus 88 members in Poso district, Central Sulwesi.          A number of religious leaders submitted the evidence to the National Police on Thursday (Feb. 28, 2013).          The IPW also called on the police to sack the police individuals who were involved in the maltreatment.          According to Neta S Pane, the people have raised many complaints over the acts and behaviors Densus 88 members.          The IPW is of the view that the Densus 88 could now be dissolved as terrorism issues in the country have been declining.          "If in the future terrorism issues appear again, they could be handled by the police's mobile brigade (Brimob)," Neta said.          Regarding the report of religious leaders about the violation committed by the Densus 88, the government, the Police, the House of Representatives and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should pay a serious attention to it.          According to the religious leaders in their report, violations  against human rights by the Densus 88 have begun to come up to the surface.          Earlier, Komnas HAM commissioner Siane Indriani said she would investigate the alleged torture by the Densus 88 individuals on civilians in Poso district at the end of 2012.          "We will soon sent an investigation team to Poso," she said.          Siane also said she would meet with Din Syamsuddin  --one of the religious leaders who submitted the video to the Police-- to discuss the matter.          Komans HAM also wants to have data on the video to complement facts it already has, she said     Hoever, House Speaker Marzuki Alie  disagreed with the dissolution of the Densus 88 anti-terror squad, saying its presence is able to minimize terror acts in Indonesia.          "If Densus 88 has weaknesses, it is the weaknesses that should be improved, its institution should not be disbanded," the House Speaker said here on Friday.          Marzuki said that terrorism was the most dangerous multinational crime which caused not only the loss of lives but also created wider negative impacts.         Citing as an example of the Bali bombing in 2002, he said it caused fear among tourists to come to Bali so that it disturbed the growth of Bali's tourism and economy.         "The establishment of Densus 88 anti-terror squad has shown benefit where it is able to minimize terror acts in Indonesia," Marzuki said.          He said that if there was human rights violation within Densus-88, members of the anti-terror squad must be reminded and solution to the problem must be sought, so that violations against human rights would not be repeated.          According to the House Speaker, the presence of Densus-88 is beneficial so that there is no need to dissolve it.          "If the Densus 88 personnel do not understand what human rights are they need to be told. If Densus 88 is dissolved and a new  anti-terror squad is established we would spend time only to disband and to establish an institutiont," Marzuki Alie said. ***2*** (T.A014/A/b003/B003) (T.A014/A/A. Abdussalam/Bustanuddin) 02-03-2013 16:12: