But his arrest now is related to his alleged terrorism crime."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Anti-terror of Indonesian police squad Densus-88s personnel seized on Sunday the house of M Amin Mude (AM) who was suspected to have financed Indonesians leaving for joining the ISIS abroad.

"Today we searched the house of suspect AM for allegedly having funded and facilitated people willing to go to Syria (to join the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)," Head of the Police Squad Densus-88 Senior Commissioner Faisal Tayib said here on Sunday.

Faisal said the Densus-88 personnel arrested Amin at the wee hours on Sunday. He said that police also once nabbed Amin last December for facilitating with accommodation 16 Indonesian citizens from Makassar, South Sulawesi, who would depart to Syria.

"But his arrest now is related to his alleged terrorism crime," Faisal added.

In the meantime, Deputy chairman of Commission I on foreign affairs of the House of Representatives Tubagus Hasanudin said on Wednesday at least 514 Indonesians have joined the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

"Based on information I have, around 514 Indonesian have joined ISIS and four of them have been killed in the fight," Tubagus Hasanuddin said.

Tubagus, however, could not give details about the places where the 514 Indonesians hailed from. "What is certain is that they are all Indonesians," he said.

The militaries of Indonesia and the United States have agreed to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko.

He made the statement while receiving U. S. Ambassador Robert O. Blake last Thursday.

He reiterated in a press statement that the ISIS is a potential threat to the existence of the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI) and therefore, must be controlled.

In keeping with this belief, he added that he had been in contact with Islamic religious leaders and those of other components in Indonesia to build a common opinion that ISIS is the common enemy.

"We have decided to not let the ISIS develop or grow in any region in Indonesia. So the TNI will stage a relatively large-scale exercise in Poso because I have monitored Poso and do not want the region to become a comfortable place for ISIS to grow, following the return of fighters from Syria and Iraq," he pointed out.

Moeldoko further noted that he believed Blake could build good communication channels, especially with the TNI, and facilitate new developments with regard to the relations between the armed forces of the two countries.

The TNI commander also stated that in a recent meeting with U. S. Commander General Martin Dempsey on prospects of establishing ties between the military forces of the two countries, it was found that Indonesia and the U. S. shared a common view regarding the collaboration and making their relations stronger.

Furthermore, U. S. Ambassador Blake said he appreciated General Moeldokos firmness with regard to tackling the ISIS and hoped that Indonesia would monitor activities of the radical Islamist group and cooperate with other members of the ASEAN over the issue.

He also thanked Indonesia for all the assistance and efforts towards cooperation so far.

"I wish to be able to invite officers in the ASEAN region to discuss ISIS and ways to deal with the group in the future," he remarked.

On the occasion, the U. S. ambassador requested for the use of the Ranai Air Base in Natuna for refueling purposes as part of the joint exercise between the nations.
(Uu.A014/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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