Police Criticized for not Being Prudent in Anticipating Radicalism

Jakarta (Antara) - The Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has criticized the police for not being prudent in anticipating radicalism leading to the recent attacks on religious activities in Yogyakarta. "The police have intelligence as well as community officers overseeing security and order at sub-district levels, but they seem to be non-existent," Chairman of the Presidium of IPW Neta S. Pane stated when asked to comment on the incidents in Yogyakarta here on Thursday. Neta noted that holding a religious activity at home is unavoidable, adding that the joint decree of the ministry of religious affairs and home affairs number 9 and 8 of 2006 on inter-religious harmony and construction of house of prayer also states that a house can be used as a place for a family religious activity. "So far, Muslims also use their houses for conducting religious activities, such as prayers, religious teachings, among others, and it has not been a problem," he stated. Neta stressed that the police intelligence and community police must be able to anticipate and know the potential of radicalism in their respective regions. With regard to Yogyakarta, Neta said that several ex-radical figures involved in communal clashes in Poso in 2000 are now living in the region. "In the past five days we have been investigating it in Yogyakarta. Many radical figures who were involved in the Poso clashes are freely conducting activities there, undetected," he added. (*) Reporting by Dewanto Samodro