RI CONCERNED OVER ISIS PLAN FOR BASE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Indonesian lawmakers, intelligence analysts and government have expressed concern over the alleged plan of ISIS to develop a base in Southeast Asia by creating a new caliphate in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.          The bomb blasts that killed eight people, including two terrorists, at Sarinah, Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta, last January, are linked to the ISIS movement. The latest ISIS-linked incident is the arrests on Saturday and Sunday of suspected terrorists who planned to detonate explosives at the State Palace.          The incidents are indications of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS') plan to build a base and create a caliphate in the region, according to Lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo.         Even Indonesian security authorities and the people should be alert about the infiltration by ISIS of mass organizations in the country, according to legislator Charles Honoris.         "I would not name the organization, but they have openly expressed support for the ISIS," Charles Honoris, a member of the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said here Friday.

RI MUST PROTECT ITS CITIZENS OVERESEAS FROM ISIS' INFLUENCE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 26 (Antara) - Indonesia, which has millions of migrant workers overseas, particularly in the Middle East, should protect them from the influence of the ISIS radical group.          After all, as per reports, certain Indonesian citizens did join the group which proclaimed itself as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, an organization which mainstream Islam rejects its 'Islam label' since ISIS believes in spreading terror and cruelty to further its cause.         Therefore, Indonesia, the country with the world's largest Muslim population, should protect its citizens from the teaching and influence of the ISIS.          The government needs to work out a program that makes people aware about the misleading struggle and radicalism of the group. Indonesian citizens, particularly Indonesian migrant workers abroad, need such education.     "Involvement of Indonesian workers, like the suspects in South Korea, necessitates that the government should work out a de-radicalization program to protect its citizens abroad," Head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers Overseas (BNP2TKI), Nusron Wahid, said on Monday.

INDONESIA MAKING ARRESTS ON ALLEGED ISIS ACTIVISTS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, March 26 (Antara) - Indonesia has over the past few days raised the alert over the activities of ISIS sympathizers, mapped out suspicious locations and arrested suspected members.          The government is tightening control in the country over the activities of supporters or followers of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) after it learnt that some 500 Indonesian citizens have joined the radical group.          Moreover, 16 Indonesian citizens have also been arrested in Turkey for alleged plans to cross into Syria to join the ISIS.          The 16 Indonesians were caught when they were trying to cross into Syria from a Turkish border city without proper documents.         Besides that, at least 514 Indonesians have joined the ISIS, according to Deputy Chairman of Commission I on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives Tubagus Hasanudin.      Therefore, Indonesian anti-terrorism police officers are now tightening control on suspicious activities of the group in Indonesia and they are arresting suspected ISIS activists.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO TIGHTEN CONTROL OVER ISIS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 20 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has been urged to tighten its control over Indonesians traveling abroad and to monitor suspicious activities of residents at home to prevent them from joining Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).          Deputy Chairman of Commission I, which oversees foreign affairs, of the House of Representatives (DPR), Tubagus Hasanudin revealed that at least 514 Indonesians have joined the terrorist group ISIS.          Despite the ISIS influence in Indonesia not yet posing a factual threat, however, the Indonesian National Police has warned Indonesian citizens to exercise caution. It has appealed to the people of the country to be wary of irresponsible parties who persuade them to join ISIS.          "We appeal to all national elements to spread awareness among the younger generation of the country, so that they are not tempted to go abroad and join ISIS without a clear mission," National Police Public Relations Spokesman Brigadier General Anton Charliyan emphasized here on Friday.

INDONESIA FIGHTING AGAINST ISIS PRESENCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 9 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim populated country, is doing its best to prevent the influence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), alerting all regional police forces and Muslim organizations.          The Indonesian move to fight the influence of the ISIS follows the uploading of a video on YouTube, depicting an Indonesian calling himself Abu Muhammad al-Indonesia appealing to Indonesian Muslims to join the ISIS.          The man in the video footage titled "Join the Ranks" is now wanted by the police.          "I have already instructed the chiefs of the regional police forces across the country to take appropriate measures in cooperation with other offices concerned to prevent the people from being influenced by the ISIS," National Police Chief General Sutarman said, Friday.          The Indonesian government has prohibited the ISIS movement because of its radical ideology, which runs against the state ideology of Pancasila and principles of unity in diversity and the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI).          In view of that the organization, which is affiliated to international terrorist network al-Qaeda, is banned in the country.          "The government has clearly banned the ISIS. The coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs has stated that the government rejects the ISIS. In view of that, we have taken tactical and technical measures to prevent and, at the same time, enforce the law against anyone affiliated to the ISIS," he noted.

INDONESIANS WARNED OF ISIS INFILTRATION

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 4 (Antara) - The Indonesian people are being alerted over the infiltration of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)'s ideology, which could cause disintegration, conflict, and disharmony in the country.          Various parties have also called on the people to prevent the spread of the ISIS influence following an ISIS video propaganda uploaded in the YouTube. Through the 7:32 minute video, the ISIS activists have offered a chance to Indonesians to join ranks in developing a "Daulah Islamiah" (Islamic state).          "As a Muslim, I call on the Indonesian Muslims to not let themselves be provoked by the ISIS propaganda, which has entered Indonesia," former chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Hasyim Muzadi said in a written statement on Sunday.          Meanwhile, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) for Central Kalimantan has issued an alert of possible infiltration by ISIS members. "We need to be on alert, as ISIS ideology must not infiltrate into our region," MUI Secretary for Central Kalimantan H Syamsuri Yusuf said.          The ideology of ISIS runs against the country's Pancasila ideology and also has radicals condoning the use of violence in its struggle.          The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Moeldoko stressed that the ISIS issue should not penetrate Indonesia, as it could create disintegration and conflict among the people.