"The House of Representatives now debating the Law on Terrorism, would see the fact that the role of the military in supporting the operation to eliminate terrorism is unavoidable," Luhut said in a statement received here on Friday.
At an informal meeting with the Communication Forum of the Banten Regional Leaders, and community and religious leaders in Serang on Friday, Luhut said he appreciated the military assisting police in the attempts to eliminate terrorism.
"Security elements have worked hard to protect the people. For that I thank them, the military and police," he said.
He said the military and police have succeeded in ending the lung hunt for the leader of Eastern Indonesia Mujahidin leader Santoso.
He called on the remaining followers of Santoso to surrender, saying,"We have policy for those still in the mountains. We call them to come down as they are also Indonesians."
"We must build out nation together in cooperation without hate against each other. No religion teaches to spread hate," he said.
He said political condition in Indonesia is encouraging, adding, the relations are excellent between the parliament and the government.
"We could not imagine such condition could happen a year ago," he said.
Luhut also spoke about progress made in economic development and tax amnesty.
In a bid to boost economic development, the government recently launched a tax amnesty program, he said, adding with the tax amnesty the government could raise Rp2,000 trillion in the next three to four years.
The program would be carried out with transparency, he said, adding "I can guarantee that we could feel transparency in all aspects of life."
He said the program was launched before 2018 when tax information exchange would start between Indonesia and a number of other countries.
"It would be difficult for anyone to hide assets abroad, and the perpetrators would be punished," he said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
