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.