[Source: Media Indonesia, Jakarta, August 13]

Jakarta – The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) will become an umbrella organization for all existing intelligence agencies, according to newly-appointed BIN head AM Hendropriyono.

"The president has determined that the BIN head will be at the same level as that of the cabinet ministers, so that BIN can cover the whole intelligence community," said Hendropriyono, who was installed yesterday as BIN head at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.

Each military institution has its own intelligence agency and there is no coordination between them. Therefore, some time ago, the DPR House of Representatives suggested that the various intelligence bodies be brought together and their coordination integrated...

Hendropriyono was appointed BIN head in Presidential Decree No 229/2001 dated 9 August 2001. Asked by reporters about the nature of domestic threats to security, the former Habibie-era transmigration minister nominated separatist groups and provocateurs. He said that President Megawati had instructed him to raise the level of investigation, leadership, and community security...

Concerning the accusation that the performance of the intelligence agencies had been poor, Hendro nickname said that the work of the intelligence agencies depended on community support. In future his office would concentrate more on involving the community.