Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Didit Sidarta – Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) defended Sunday's deadly raid of two suspected terrorist hideouts in Bali, explaining that police are allowed to use extreme force in "emergency" situations.

Five suspected terrorists were fatally shot as members of the National Police's anti-terrorism unit Detachment 88 traded fire with the alleged terrorists in two Sunday night raids on the resort island of Bali, police said.

Human rights activists have been critical of Indonesia's harsh treatment of suspected terrorists after it became clear that many suspects were being killed in police raids. Alleged terrorists should be afforded the same legal process as any other offender, critics said.

BNPT chief Ansyaad Mbai explained that while there is no clear rule on using deadly force during anti-terror raids, 2010 presidential rulings allow officers to fire their weapons in "emergency situations."

"To date, no legal expert can define an emergency act of defense," Ansyaad said. "Maybe we have to draw the clear line as to when officers may use their guns."

But Sunday's raids were within the National Police's rights, Ansyaad said. The alleged terrorists were armed and police were involved in a shootout at the time.

Three of the suspects, Dd, 27 and U.H., 27, from Bandung and M., 30, from Makassar, were fatally shot during a raid on a rented bungalow on Jalan Danau Poso in Sanur. Two others were killed in a separate raid of a hotel on Jalan Gunung Soputan in Denpasar.

"All of the suspects resisted as they were being arrested. A shootout [between the suspects and the police] took place," National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar has said.

Four different terrorist organizations operate in Indonesia, Jamaah Islamiyah, Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid, the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) and Tauhid Waljihad, Ansyaad said. (BeritaSatu/JG)