What had happened in Bali some years ago was the result of those people moving to Afghanistan."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters has become a threat to every nation, Chief of the Indonesia National Counter-Terrorism Agency Commissioner General Police Suhardi Alius stated at the International Meeting on Counter-Terrorism.
"The perpetrators of terrorism, who not only come from local areas but also from overseas, enter certain countries to carry out various actions. This phenomenon is one of our key areas of focus for undertaking terrorism preventive measures," Alius noted in a press statement, Wednesday.
There is also a growing phenomenon of ISIS sympathizers moving to Iraq and Syria to join the militant group.
In the past, hundreds of Indonesians had gone to Afghanistan to join Al Qaeda.
"What had happened in Bali some years ago was the result of those people moving to Afghanistan. The government does not want this to recur with the return of Indonesians from Iraq and Syria," Alius remarked.
Alius believes that recruitment by ISIS can be considered as human trafficking. They use the Internet to communicate with and recruit new members.
The government is intensifying de-radicalization programs to curb terrorism by using soft and tolerant religious narratives, among other things.
As part of the international community, Indonesia has been implementing counter-terrorism mechanisms that have been agreed upon internationally.
Indonesia is also consistent in constantly addressing the terrorism phenomenon.
Themed "Countering Cross-Border Movement of Terrorism," the meeting was officially opened by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (retired) General Wiranto.
The meeting was attended by representatives from 35 countries, such as the United States, China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, France, Russia, and Australia.
The meeting was convened back-to-back along with the 2nd Counter-Terrorism Financing Summit, to be jointly organized by the Indonesian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre and the Australian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre, at the same venue, from August 8 to 11.
(Uu.F001/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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