http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20061106.F03&irec=2
Selecting a new head of intelligence Ken Conboy, Jakarta Having passed the two-year mark in the presidency of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, rumors are building over a possible Cabinet shake-up near year's end. For the most part, pundits have been speculating about new faces among those posts dealing with the economy. But while it is no longer a Cabinet position, there is an equally critical succession issue brewing at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN). Since nearly the beginning of this administration, BIN has been led by Maj. Gen. (ret) Sjamsir Siregar. It has been widely reported that he was plucked to lead the agency because he had been on Yudhoyono's campaign team during the 2004 presidential election. While hardly as colorful as his predecessor, Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono, Siregar has turned in a credible performance to date. For one thing, he has built cordial ties with military intelligence counterparts - no surprise given that earlier he led the armed force's own intelligence agency, BAIS. For another thing, he was also reportedly cooperative during the investigation into the 2004 assassination of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib. Perhaps most importantly, Siregar has overseen BIN during a critical period of consolidation. In 2005, the organization peaked at seven deputy-level divisions, though many were filled with directorates that were far below authorized strength. Earlier this year, he reduced BIN to just five deputies, including a couple who are arguably the most competent in years. Significantly, three of the five deputies are civilians and career intelligence officers - a welcome break from the past, when BIN, and the Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Bakin) before it, was dominated by seconded Army brass. But after two years in the slot, the 64-year-old Siregar, who by several accounts said he took the position on the condition he would only serve for half a term, is reportedly ready to step down. If it comes to that, the President no doubt realizes that much is at stake in selecting the next intelligence chief. More than ever, his administration needs objective and accurate counsel for plotting the future of provinces like Aceh and Papua. BIN has also played a low-key but prominent role in combating economic crimes such as illegal logging, which has been an ongoing goal of the current administration. Even more critical, BIN continues to play a key counter-terrorism function. In particular, the agency, with its close counterpart relationship with foreign intelligence services, adds a strategic dimension to the effort of combating radicals both within and outside Indonesia's borders. And more than ever, BIN is cooperating in this field with its police and BAIS counterparts. While Siregar has yet to vacate his seat, several names as potential replacements have already come to the fore. Several have military intelligence backgrounds, including no less than three former BAIS chiefs. While any of these might be deemed safe choices - Siregar, after all, is of the same pedigree, they could hardly be considered ideal. After all, most bring with them a New Order-style combat intelligence mentality that BIN has been trying to avoid. Furthermore, all are hovering at, or have already passed, retirement age and could hardly be seen as passing the torch to a new generation. Outside of military candidates, two other choices have been mentioned by those close to the President. The first, Ambassador Makarim Wibisono, 59, is a foreign service officer with a long and distinguished career. Among his posts has been a stint in Washington, a posting to the United Nations in New York for four years until 2001 and Indonesia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva since 2004. While Makarim would certainly be a bold choice, and the first diplomat to be intelligence chief since Subandrio was summarily axed in 1966, there are drawbacks. The diplomat in question has absolutely no intelligence background. Even if he is a quick study, this is a disturbing shortcoming for a would-be intelligence czar. Moreover, it is doubtful that a career diplomat could successfully defend BIN's turf against encroaching military and police interests. His deep knowledge and vast experience in dealing with human rights issues in international forums has reportedly become his biggest asset for promotion to the top intelligence position. The other candidate tipped for the top post is As'at Said, BIN's current number two. A career intelligence officer since entering the civil service in 1974,spent eight years in overseas postings (all in the Middle East). He is considered a part of the agency's institutional memory and foremost expert on the threat from radical Islam. As'at took over the number two slot in 2000. Since then, he has been biding his time under three successive chiefs, all generals. By all accounts, he is clean. In particular, numerous sources have concluded that he had no link to the Munir assassination. In selectingthe President would again be making a bold choice. Not only would it be breaking from the past in shunning an Army general, but As'at would be the first civilian career intelligence officer to reach the peak of that agency. If nothing else, such a choice would underscore the trend toward civilian supremacy in Indonesia's fast-maturing democracy. But perhaps As'at's biggest asset is that he is not a political appointee. While reportedly close to former president Abdurrahman Wahid,has been seen as objectively supporting the current President and his immediate predecessor. And with Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono entering the final years of his first term - and the political landscape no doubt set to grow more convoluted as the polls near - his best choice might be in picking such an intelligence chief who rises above the interests of any particular political party. The writer heads Risk Management Advisory, a security consultancy in Jakarta. He is the author of INTEL: Inside Indonesia's Intelligence Service. printer [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! 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