"We have not seen it. But we remain alert in case they seek to drop out from the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI)."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Deputy House of Representatives Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso has urged the government to immediately root out NII (Indonesia Islamic State) networks suspected to have already infiltrated universities in the country.

"The government must have the courage to crush the NII so that it would not cause more damage," he said here on Thursday.

He said preventing and eradicating NII networks was one of the tasks of the nation especially the government through its intelligence agencies.

Priyo from the Golkar Party questioned the reaction of the government so far that seemed to have ignored the issue so that it could further develop to a present stage.

"I have asked the coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs and the intelligence agency to immediately neutralize these terrorist and other sinister networks," he said.

He said he was shocked to learn from media reports that the movement had become so big.

Moreover, he said, it was believed that the movement had already penetrated prominent universities and influenced some of their students.

Earlier, an alumni from the Jakarta State Islamic University was named suspect for allegedly being involved in a bombing plot in Serpong, Banten province.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Djoko Suyanto denied that the government had ignored the NII saying that it had already taken actions against the propagators of the radical ideology before.

"The government has already anticipated misleading ideologies such as `Darul Islam` (DI) and NII," he said here on Thursday.

He said the government had also taken firm actions against the propagators of the ideology in previous periods.

"Until now the government keeps monitoring all kinds of misleading movement. We will face them together, not only the government but also ulemas and community leaders. (There has not been any) ignorance. A lot of legal actions have been taken," he said.

Djoko said there were indications that NII had conducted indoctrination and brainwashing in efforts to recruit members and raise money through them.

He said however that the government had not seen any indication of its linkage with terrorism.

"We have not seen it. But we remain alert in case they seek to drop out from the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI)," he said.

Regarding the case of persons believed to have gone missing after being recruited by NII, Djoko said that method of brainwashing could also be done by others not only NII. "The police are still investigating potential dangers on the state. Look at our country all is defying," he said.

Djoko denied alleged involvement of the military and intelligence in the movement. "No, there is not anything like that. Where did you get the rumors from. It`s as if they have no work to do," he said.

The chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Sutanto, meanwhile said that his office was still investigating the link between the Al-Zaitun boarding school with DI or NII.

"The police are still collecting evidence while its link is still under investigation," he said.

The boarding school in Indramayu, West Java, has been alleged to have been involved in propagating NII ideology.

Regarding pockets of NII members in several places in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, Sutanto said legal actions would be taken against them if they were proven involved in the movement.

"If legally proven actions would be taken like what we have done in West Java," he said.

On possible involvement of military personnel, Sutanto said "(there is) nothing like that."

"Do not think like in the past. Now is the reform era. There is no longer things like that," he said.

He said legal processes so far had been very transparent so that people could see what had been done. So "please do not enter into discourses of those who are just guessing," he said.
(T.R024*R018/H-YH/HAJM/S012)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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