Indonesia Plans to Set Up Cyber Army

Makassar, South Sulawesi (Antara) - In addressing the challenges of the current information and technology era, Indonesia needs specialized soldiers who can handle a cyber war, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said here on Wednesday. "We need to have soldiers with specialized skills for a cyber war in addition to our soldiers who are prepared for guerrilla warfare or physical wars," he stated. He noted that the current IT era has given rise to a new breed of criminals, or hackers, who attempt to collect classified information. Anticipatory measures must be adopted to prevent hackers from gaining the upper hand, he said, adding that the Indonesian government possesses a lot of vital information that must be protected. In view of the need for protection, he claimed his office planned to create a cyber army to head off potential cyber attacks that could disrupt the country's defense system and sovereignty. "We plan to establish a cyber army. Every year, we host a cyber competition, where one unit is assigned the task of defense and another is tasked with attacking," he stated. He said the plan would be part of the development of the country's defense communication systems and the ministry's information systems. He noted that the planned cyber army would consist of personnel from the army, air force, navy, and civilian community. "Cyber attacks could disrupt our national sovereignty, which is currently vulnerable. The cyber army, comprising both military and non-military personnel, will be established to fight such attacks," he remarked. The ministry of defense also plans to establish a cyber defense unit to safeguard the country's sovereignty and integrity, he confirmed. The cyber defense unit, he explained, would also involve the army, navy, and air force, while the ministry of communication and informatics would help with meeting the unit's management, infrastructure, equipment, and human resources requirements. Purnomo stressed that no serious cyber threats had been seen recently, but minor threats have often occurred, although these have not been categorized as threats to the country's national defense. "It is a small issue at present, but we must be alert because the destructive potential of cyber attacks is vast," he said. (*)