"Although arguing for the defense of religion and culture, Indonesia expressly rejects the existence of ISIS and leaves no space for this group," he noted in a speech at the 1st Indonesia International Defense Science Seminar in Sentul, West Java Province, on Wednesday.
The minister said the problem of ISIS has the potential to become a global issue that needs to be tackled together.
After gaining a stronghold in Syria, ISIS is looking to establish its base in southern Philippines in the Southeast Asian region.
He said any movement of ISIS in the Philippines will be countered by countries in the region, as part of the efforts to maintain regional stability.
He highlighted that every country is responsible for protecting its society from any threat, and ISIS has become one of the threats. Every government also has a noble goal to ensure security and realize the welfare of its people.
Hence, countries in the region or the world need to work together to undertake joint efforts to combat ISIS and radicalism.
On the occasion, he also elaborated that in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, the main objective of Indonesias national defense strategy is to secure the nations interests, which are to protect all Indonesians, to promote common prosperity, to educate the nations citizens, and to implement world order based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice.
Hence, Indonesia continues to combat any threat that can destroy peace in the country and the world, including countering terrorism and radicalism.
Along with global developments and various conflicts occurring around the world, he said it was increasingly realized that the states resilience is not sufficient in terms of the military aspect and procurement of equipment for the defense forces, but it is necessary to strengthen the nations insight, so that the people will not be provoked by radical ideology.
In addition, the Indonesian community needs to realize the nations noble values, remain faithful to Pancasila as the nations ideology, and have awareness of defending the state.
He had earlier explained that Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines had, so far, cooperated in the field of security, including for conducting regional patrols to deal with pirates in the borders of the three countries.
He said the emergence of a current threat in the form of a terror movement by an armed radical group that has disrupted peace in Southeast Asia must seriously be overcome by the three countries.
Moreover, it is suspected that South Philippines was being targeted to become the next ISIS base, he said.
The Indonesian government has intensified sea and land patrols to prevent the infiltration of ISIS militants from the Philippines to Indonesia.
Ryacudu believes that the seminar could serve as a meeting forum to intensify interactive communication and dialog for seeking shared views to handle common problems and challenges that can disrupt regional and national stability.
The seminar was themed "New Thinking for Strategic Policy in the Field of Security, Stability and Humanities Affairs in Region of Asia Pacific and Oceania." It was held by the Defense University of Indonesia.
The seminar was attended by representatives from some defense universities in the world, including the US, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and Australia.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
