PRESS RELEASE

NO. 308/HMS/XII/02

Indonesia Establishes Antiterror Task Force

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia on December 23, 2002 officially established an Antiterrorism Task Force (Desk Koordinasi Pemberantasan Terrorisme). Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appointed 58 members brought in from various Indonesia governmental agencies and a local non-governmental agency.  Inaugurating the task force, Minister Yudhoyono said that the unit would also be tasked with evaluating past and present antiterrorism efforts, and planning follow-up measures.

Established under the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu No.1/2002) on 18 October 2002, the agency will coordinate the Government's efforts to combat terrorism as an umbrella body for all other regulations dealing with the elimination of crimes of terrorism.  Presidential Directive (Inpres No.4/2002) on 22 October 2002, stipulated the establishment of such a task force to assist the Government’s comprehensive operational and strategic action plan in dealing with terrorism. 

Operating under the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, the agency will handle specific tasks including analysis, evaluation and planning; intelligence coordination; coordination for law enforcement; coordination for international cooperation; coordination for information and public relations; and coordination for prevention and safety.

Insp. Gen. Ansyaad Mbai of the National Police leads the team, which includes such government agencies as the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bank of Indonesia, Indonesian Intelligence Body, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Indonesian Association for Advocacy as a local non-governmental agency.

                                                                    New York, 26 December 2002