Terrorism has become a grave threat to national security and the lives of individuals around the world, and thus, there is an urgent need to curb the activities of terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The time has come for all elements in the country to stand together to fight the ISIS and other forms of terrorism, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi has stated.
All government public relations indirectly should be able to seek to participate in preventing acts of terrorism in the country, Chrisnandi noted.
"All government public relations apparatus must be aware of the various potential threats and disturbance, including the acts of terrorism, in the life of the nation," the minister remarked in Surabaya, East Java Tuesday.
All government public relations apparatus should continue to establish communication and relationship with various levels of society to prevent terrorism and radicalism, according to him.
The ideology of the ISIS is misleading as its followers are committed to killing innocent people, Lebak district branch of Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Chairman Syatibi Hanbali has stated.
"We have to be on guard against the ideology of the ISIS, so that it does not spread in Indonesia," Hanbali remarked in the Lebak district town of Rangkasbitung Tuesday.
The ideology of the ISIS terrorist group is extremely dangerous for the Indonesian nation, and thus, it has to be eradicated completely, according to Hanbali.
The ISIS ideology is extremely misleading as it is not the correct religious teachings delivered to mankind, he reiterated.
The followers of the ISIS, which developed in Iraq and Syria, have committed barbaric and cruel acts by killing innocent people in several locations in Paris, France, Hanbali noted.
Furthermore, the radical movement of the ISIS has fought and killed anyone, including Muslims, who refused to follow its teachings, he added.
Therefore, the ISIS poses a major threat to the life of the Indonesian nation, he stated.
Moreover, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and the state philosophy of Pancasila are final, and it is not justified if anyone attempts to replace them.
"We urge the security forces to act decisively against the ISIS as it can become a threat to the people of Indonesia," he said, and added that the MUI should cooperate with the police, religious leaders, communities, and various Islamic organizations, to ensure that the ISIS teachings should not be allowed to spread in Indonesia.
To prevent the radical movement of the ISIS from gaining ground in Lebak district, a correct approach and clear understanding of the teachings of Islam were necessary, Hanbali emphasized.
"To this end, we call on all sections of the society, whether Muslims, Christians, Hindus, or Buddhists, to increase vigilance against radicalism and terrorism," he added.
In the meantime, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa stated Tuesday that the current struggle was a united determination to eradicate terrorism and radicalism.
"If in the past, Bung Tomo and the heroes of independence were able to defeat the invaders, today, we should have the power and determination to drive away terrorism and radicalism together," the minister remarked during a gathering with members of the Bung Tomo family in Jakarta Tuesday.
Heroic values that can be imbibed to ward off the threats of radicalism and terrorism are the strength of the entire nation, including inter-ethnic and religious communities, which should work hand-in-hand, according to the minister.
Furthermore, the spirit that motivated Bung Tomo to channel the energy of the entire nation in the past was a tremendous force, Parawansa said.
The social affairs minister held a gathering with the members of Bung Tomos family in the framework of the commemoration of National Heroes Day to pass on the values of independence from the families of the heroes.
Since terrorism and extremism constitute one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called for international cooperation to face them.
During the G-20 Working Dinner Session Sunday night in Antalya, Turkey, to discuss issues related to terrorism and the ongoing refugee crisis, President Jokowi remarked that extremism and terrorism happens worldwide.
"This is a challenge that needs to be followed up and addressed jointly through concrete actions," the president remarked.
The truly negative impact of the conflict that continues to occur throughout the world is the increase in irregular migration, he argued.
Irregular migrant issues have been a fairly serious challenge, particularly for Turkey and European countries, Jokowi said.
To end this problem, the root cause should first be resolved by ensuring balanced development, stop violence and oppression, eliminate discrimination and uphold democracy, the Indonesian President noted.
Indonesia was implementing the combination of a "hard approach", which emphasizes law enforcement and security, as well as "soft approach", by using a cultural and religious approach in tackling extremism in Indonesia, he further explained.
As the country with the largest Muslim population and the third largest democracy in the world, Indonesia is a laboratory to show that Islam, democracy, and diversity can go hand-in-hand, President Jokowi believes.(*)
Reporter: Otniel Tamindael
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
