He killed Malaysian terrorist bombmaker in 2005, now he's Indonesia's antiterror chief
Rycko Amelza Dahniel was part of the team that killed Jemaah Islamiyah's "demolition man" Dr. Azahari Husin.
JAKARTA: Indonesian senior cop Rycko Amelza Dahniel, who neutralised a notorious Malaysian terrorist bombmaker in 2005, has become the new chief of the National Counterterrorism Agency or BNPT, the nation’s Cabinet Secretariat announced.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi appointed Rycko as the BNPT head on Monday (Apr 3) at the State Palace, Jakarta, the secretariat announced in a statement.
The appointment was carried out simultaneously with the inauguration of Ario Bimo Nandito Ariotedjo or Dito Ariotedjo as Minister of Youth and Sports.
Rycko said Jokowi, after the inauguration ceremony, had asked him to optimise deradicalisation activities, especially for those who have been involved in the legal system for radicalism and terrorism, according to the Cabinet’s Secretariat further.
"Of course we will use various efforts, a preventive approach, persuasively, of course by prioritising prevention efforts," Rycko was quoted as saying.
As a government agency tasked with carrying out government policies and strategies in countering terrorism, said Rycko, the BNPT is implementing three strategies.
"The first strategy is national preparedness. The second is to carry out counter-radicalisation. And thirdly, to carry out deradicalisation," he said.
In carrying out this strategy, the new head emphasised that the BNPT will try to synergise all forces in the relevant government agencies.
"We will cooperate both domestically and abroad, especially by making prevention efforts. Prevention by using touch rather than heart, as well as prevention that prioritises efforts in the fields of education, education and welfare," he said.
In addition to preventive measures, said Rycko, his agency will also enforce the law which is placed as the last resort in countering terrorism.
"Law enforcement will be placed as an ultimum remedium, the last option in making efforts to deal with ideology rather than terrorism," he said.
Rycko replaced Boy Rafli Amar who was entering retirement age.
Formerly an aide to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Rycko was instrumental in the killing of Dr. Azahari Husin, who was a Malaysian academic-turner-bombmaker nicknamed “Demolition Man” of the then-al-Qaeda-linked Indonesian terror network, Jemaah Islamiyah.
Rycko graduated from the Police Academy in 1988 and was the best graduate in his batch. Born in Bogor on Aug 14, 1966, Rycko is experienced in the detective field. He joined Polri’s Criminal Investigation Agency with former Polri chief and current Home Minister General Tito Karnavian in crippling Dr. Azahari in Batu, East Java.
Later, Rycko served as North Jakarta metro police chief in 2008. In 2009, he was summoned to the State Palace to become Susilo’s adjutant during his second term.
Rycko later served as West Java deputy police chief in 2013, the National Police Education and Training Institute’s (Lemdiklat) policing school head in 2014, North Sumatra police chief in 2016, Governor of the Police Academy in 2017, Central Java regional police chief in 2019, Head of the Intelligence and Security Agency in 2020 and Head of Lemdiklat in 2021.