BIN leader must have wide network and experience, experts say

Jakarta, InfoPublik - Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) chairman Neta Pane said that Indonesia’s State Intelligence Agency (BIN) head must have a wide network so that the country’s intelligence network become more professional.

“A wide network in social, politic, and civil society affairs is a major capital for the Head of BIN. The leader is expected to be able to maximize the network and synergize BIN with various institutions in order to protect the country from terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, natural resources  exploitation by foreigners, and other crimes," said Mr. Pane in a statement in Jakarta, Sunday (8/14).

He confirmed that the candidates’ names to be submitted to the House of Representatives must take fit and proper test to succeed Sutiyoso as the Head of BIN. Each one of them is expected to be able to synergize in maintaining national security and defense. "All this time, Indonesia is continuously to be the target of foreign intelligence operations through terrorism, drugs trafficking, human trafficking, illegal fishing, smuggling, and other cases," he said

In line with Mr. Pane, Indonesian human rights monitor group Imparsial’s military observer Al Araf said that state intelligence agency is a civilian intelligence agency that should be led by civilians. "I think the state intelligence agency is a civilian intelligence agency. So, anybody who led the agency has to be civilians," he said.

The civilian candidates, he added, is certainly a good thing for the country's spying agency leadership and the transformation of the agency into a civilian intelligence agency. (Translator: Wilda Stiana)