Why is Indonesia's antiterror agency asking for an increased budget?

They're asking for a total of IDR 886,239,664,700 (USD 126.8 million).

The agency is facing limitations in the number of personnel and competencies, says its chief. (Photo: Via Akhbar Al Aan)

JAKARTA: Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has reportedly asked for an increase in its 2024 budget to launch a number of programmes from deradicalisation to creating representatives in the nation's regions and abroad.

BNPT chief Rycko Amelza Dahniel said that the indicative ceiling that had been set at IDR 430 billion (USD 28.9 million) was still insufficient, so the suggestion was to add IDR 456 billion (USD 30.7 million), CNN Indonesia reported. 

"The proposed BNPT budget ceiling proposes a new initiative of IDR 456,092,523,700 (USD 30.7 million). So if approved, the total proposed 2024 BNPT budget will be IDR 886,239,664,700 (USD 126.8 million)," said Rycko during a working meeting with the Commission on Law and Legislation, Human Rights and Security Affairs at the House of Representatives on Wednesday (June 7). 

Rycko said that the BNPT experienced limitations in the number of personnel and competence. The implementation of the deradicalisation programme has also become less than optimal.

He said the BNPT was only able to handle 246 people out of a total of 1,400 former terrorism convicts throughout Indonesia.

"This is due to the limited number of human resources and available competencies," CNN Indonesia quoted Rycko as saying.

In addition, Rycko also conveyed the obligation of the BNPT to carry out an assessment of the security system at vital objects and other objects in national and international activities.

With the available budget, BNPT can only carry out 20 assessments in one year, while the number of vital objects in Indonesia is 1,962.

Rycko said the BNPT needs representatives in the regions as an extension of the BNPT to carry out the mandate of the law optimally. That way, programmes can be implemented properly.

Rycko also said that the duties and functions of the BNPT had become even greater after Law Number 5 of 2018 was passed. 

Rycko proposed changes to the BNPT structure, namely by adding a number of deputies who would be in charge of counter-radicalisation, deradicalisation, coordination between law enforcement and victim recovery and international cooperation.

"A technical implementation unit is needed in the 13 regions in the 34 provinces based on the challenges and distribution of radicalism and terrorism," said Rycko.

"And of course four additional BNPT representatives abroad, where there are Indonesian citizens who are members of international terrorist organisations, including in Iraq, Syria, the Philippines and Afghanistan. Plus FTF crossings in Turkish territory," said the official, using an acronym for foreign terrorist fighters.