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| Counter-Terrorism Training (Unrelated File Photo) |
By Tyler McBrien
Opacity, lack of accountability, and extra-judicial killings are not criticisms reserved solely for U.S. counterterrorism policies. The Indonesian government faces similar grievances, domestically and internationally, in its own counterterrorism campaign. With the ongoing pivot to Asia, the United States is looking to Indonesia, already a regional economic powerhouse, as a like-minded democratic partner. Encouragingly, Indonesia’s counterterrorism police, troubled by a history of human rights abuses, have begun—albeit haltingly—to admit wrongdoing in select cases. Washington should applaud Jakarta’s move toward accountability, emphasizing that a respect for human rights will not only further Indonesia’s counterterror operations but strengthen its nascent partnership with the United States.
Last week, Densus 88, Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism police force, lauded for its widespread success yet criticized for human rights abuses, released two suspected terrorists due to lack of evidence. Emerging from police captivity with bruised wrists, the two men were placed in the custody of a leader from Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah. The handover came on the heels of protests from the human rights group Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) and an investigation from Muhammadiyah, who still demand an explanation from police. Although the unit enjoys strong Indonesian public opinion, the controversial Densus 88 is plagued by frequent protests and rebukes. While shrugging off criticism seems to be Densus 88 standard operating procedure, the recent incident showed a significant improvement in the organization’s accountability to the Indonesian public.
Read the full story at The Diplomat