Bella Evanglista, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo officially appointed Police Inspector General Eddy Hartono as the head of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) on Wednesday. Eddy, a former key figure in Indonesia's elite counter-terrorism unit, Densus 88, brings a wealth of experience to his new role.
Under Eddy Hartono's leadership, BNPT will focus on three key aspects of counter-terrorism: enhancing national preparedness to respond to and prevent terrorist threats, implementing strategies to counter radical ideologies and prevent the spread of extremism, and concentrating on rehabilitating and reintegrating former extremists to prevent their return to terrorism.
"I will continue the work accomplished by our predecessors. Essentially, BNPT will play a coordinating role to synergize efforts among ministries and agencies in the fight against terrorism," Eddy said.
Born in May 1967, Eddy Hartono is widely recognized for his expertise in criminal investigation. A graduate of the Indonesian National Police Academy (Akpol) in 1990, Eddy has steadily climbed the ranks within the police force, building an impressive career over the decades.
In 2008, Eddy began his career as a senior investigator in the IT and Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim). The following year, he served as the police chief of Hulu Sungai Selatan in South Kalimantan.
Eddy's career saw a significant boost when he joined the elite counter-terrorism unit, Densus 88. He initially served as the head of investigations and was later promoted to deputy chief of Densus 88 in 2014.
In 2015, Eddy was appointed as the head of Densus 88, a position he held until 2017. Following this, he returned as deputy chief of the unit from 2017 to 2018. During his time at Densus 88, Eddy played a key role in tackling major terrorism cases and safeguarding national security.
Eddy's career with BNPT began in 2018 when he was appointed Director of Capacity Building. He was later promoted to Director of Law Enforcement that same year. In 2021, he briefly served as the acting director of BNPT's enforcement division before being named a senior instructor at the National Police's Education and Training Institute.