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.
Therefore, Bambang Soesatyo who is the chairman of Commission III in charge of security affairs of the DPR, called on the government to give full authority to the police and military to restrict the movements of the ISIS sympathizers.
The Indonesian government should learn a lesson from the failures of the governments of Iraq and Syria in crippling the ISIS movement in their countries. "The national resilience will face a heavy test if ISIS' plans to build a base in Southeast Asia are not deterred immediately," Bambang stated in Jakarta Wednesday.
The concern over the ISIS movement has also been expressed by the Indonesian Defense Forces Commander General Gatot Nurmantyo and the Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, according to Bambang.
ISIS has declared its intention to build a base in the southern Philippines as part of its efforts to create a new caliphate in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.
Concerns abound over the return of Indonesians who are ISIS sympathizers. "The question is, why are they returning to Indonesia? Are they returning to normal life? Or are they returning to realize the ISIS ideal of building a caliphate in Southeast Asia?" the Commission III chairman asked.
He also pointed to the group's plan to carry out a bomb attack on the State Palace. "Moreover, there is an Indonesian citizen who is trusted enough to become an ISIS leader. This citizen was suspected of masterminding the Sarinah bombing in Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta (last January)," Bambang argued.
After all, Indonesian ISIS fighter Bahrun Naim has been actively building his cells in Indonesia and recruiting new members, including the suspect MNS who was arrested in Bekasi, West Java, on Saturday (December 10).
On Saturday, the Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) arrested three alleged terrorists, including MNS and AS, both males, and DYN, a female. MNS and AS were arrested on a flyover in Kalimalang, Bekasi, while DYN was arrested in a rented flat in Bintara Jaya 8 road, Bekasi, West Java.
Police again arrested four people in connection with the finding of bombs in Bintara Jaya, Bekasi, West Java, on Saturday, believed to be intended for detonation at vital national monuments.
"Four suspects have been arrested by counter-terrorism squad Densus 88. Two more are still wanted. It is possible that this number will continue to increase based on the results of the investigation," Indonesian Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Awi Setiyono stated at a press conference at the Indonesian Police Headquarters Sunday.
One of the four suspects arrested is a woman, who is suspected of being tasked with carrying out the bombing, he said. "Bahrun Naim has been actively contacting his cells, including MNS and DYN," Senior Commissioner Awi Setiyono, the National Police Spokesman said in Jakarta Tuesday.
Bahrun is teaching his cells how to construct bombs and build networks by communicating through social media, he stated. "They communicate through social media, by using the application called Telegram. Bahrun disseminates information on how to construct explosives," he noted.
The government should act firmly against anti Pancasila ideology organizations and ISIS agents in Indonesia, intelligence observer Susaningtyas Kertapati said. "Firm measures should be taken against organizations not recognizing Pancasila," Susaningtyas said adding that there are indications that a number of mass organizations have accepted ISIS ideology, she said without giving a name.
Security agencies including police, the military, the National Anti-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) need to be more serious in preventing the spread of ISIS ideology in the country, she said.
Indonesia's Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu also called for increased alertness following reports that the ISIS terrorist group intends to set up a base in the Philippines.
"I just returned from the Philippines yesterday. I already said six months ago that (the terrorist group) will expand. (The situation) must be closely monitored," he said here Friday (December 9).
The plan to establish an ISIS base in the Philippines must be anticipated as ISIS activities could affect regional order and national security, he suggested.
Therefore, President Joko Widodo called on the people in the country to play an active role in the fight against terrorism with regard to narrowing room for the crime to happen.
"Without the support of the people it would be difficult for us to fight terrorism. There must be no room, even a small one, for terrorism to happen in our country," he said in a press statement on Sunday (December 11). ***2*** (A014/INE)EDITED BY INE/H-YH
(T.SYS/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 14-12-2016 23:20:0 |
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