Friski Riana, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has recently ordered the Indonesian National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) to consolidate its efforts in combating terrorism following the Surabaya bomb attacks.
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said the number of TNI soldiers that would collaborate with the police would depend on the police's request.
"It could be TNI's strategic intelligence agency (BAIS TNI) that will assist the police's intelligence. But it could also be the Gultor unit (Sat-81 of the Army's special forces), which has been on standby," said Moeldoko in South Jakarta today.
According to him, the consolidation seeks to strengthen the police's authority in taking repressive steps to eradicate terrorism, especially in the wake of sleeper cells. Moeldoko also said both institutions would not overlap each other's authorities.
A series of suicide bombings shook Surabaya on Sunday, May 13, at three different churches and claimed 13 lives, including a family comprising six persons who allegedly became the suicide bombers.