Jakarta – National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Insp. Gen. Budi Gunawan has said the Indonesian economy is currently being controlled by food and energy cartels.
The cartels are difficult to eliminate because of their wide and strong networks, said Budi, adding that they sought the replacement of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti because she was tough against illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.
"Bu Susi is being counterattacked through fishermen's demonstrations, etc.," he said at a gathering of ulemas from across the country in Jakarta on Thursday as reported by tribunnews.com.
"The powers [cartels] play the game to seek Bu Susi 's replacement," Budi said, adding that they were not happy with Susi because their businesses were disrupted by Susi's tough actions against illegal fishing.
Budi said the cartels had always prevented Indonesia from enjoying sovereignty in the food sector so that the country would be forced to rely on them.
"The ulemas have to know that there is a massive intelligence operation in the economic sector," said Budi, citing the low quality of some foreign products, particularly those from China, that had flooded the Indonesian markets, making the Indonesian products less competitive in their own market. (bbn)