"Reports on terrorism should not adversely lead to the birth of new terrorist cells," Com. Gen. Suhardi Alius said.Jakarta, Sept 27 (Antara) - Head of the National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT) Com. Gen. Suhardi Alius, has requested the media to use wisdom in reporting on terrorism.
"Reports on terrorism should not adversely lead to the birth of new terrorist cells," Suhardi told media editors during a gathering, which was also attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto, here on Monday.
The BNPT chief expressed his hope that national media editors would also consider the impact or implications of news reports on terrorism before presenting them.
"We hope that news reports would help reduce radicalism, which has a high multiplier effect in Indonesia," said Suhardi, who is also a former chief of the criminal investigation department of the National Police Headquarters.
He said he also hoped that the antiterrorism law now being deliberated in the House of Representatives would provide a strong legal umbrella for action to deter known terrorism threats.
So far, he said, BNPT is able to detect terrorism threats earlier, but it has not been able to take actions because the terrorists had not carried out their plans.
"Security officers can take actions only after the terrorists carry out their plans. Therefore, we include this matter in the amendment of the Law on Terrorism (now being discussed in the DPR)," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
