ARREST OF FOREIGN TERROR SUSPECTS PROMPTS INDONESIA TO TIGHTEN SECURITY by Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 15, 2014 (Antara) - The Indonesian government has announced rejection of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) in the country and arrested local terror suspects who have declared their supports to the foreign group.

        Recently, two alleged ISIS supporters were arrested by Depok Resort Police Office in Beji Sub-district, Depok District, West Java Province.

          Firman Hidayat (36) and his father, Muhammad Firdaus (60), both Indonesians, were detained following a tip-off from a witness who saw an ISIS flag on a wall of their house, spokesperson of Jakarta's Police Office (Polda Metro Jaya) Senior Commissioner Rikwanto told the press on August 22, 2014.

         More shocking news came from spokesman of the National Police Inspector General Ronny F Sompie on September 14, 2014, when he told the press that four foreigners, allegedly members of ISIS, were arrested by Densus 88 anti-terror squad and Central Sulawesi police in Parigi Moutong district on their way to Poso district, Central Sulawesi, on Sept 13 evening.

        "Four Turkish nationals and three Indonesians were caught in Marantale village, Parigi Moutong district. Before the arrest, the terrorist suspects were on their way to Poso district to join a terrorist group led by Santoso and Mochtar," said Ronny.

        The four foreigners were later flown from Mutiara SIS Al Jufri airport in Palu, Central Sulawesi, to Jakarta on Sept. 14 morning, for further investigation.         
     The foreigners were identified as A Basyit, A Bozoghlan, A Bayram, and A Zubaidan and were initially believed to be Turkish nationals. In an interrogation helped by a translator, the foreigners claimed to had once stayed in Turkey. Most likely they were from Turkestan, which is located near the border between China and Mongolia, the police spokesman stated.

         Claiming to be tourists on a recreation to Indonesia, they had entered Indonesia's territory separately and used fake passports.

         "We suspect that they have used fake passports. They had claimed to have come from Turkey, but no record exists of their departure from that country," Senior Commissioner Agus Riyanto, police spokesman, reported here on Monday.

           The police suspected that the four foreigners intended to join a terror group led by Santoso, who was hiding somewhere in Poso forest and had declared his affiliation to ISIS, which has currently changed its name into the Islamic State (IS) as they wanted to expand their influence.  
    Being prompted by the arrest of the foreigners, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a meeting with several ministers on Sept. 14, 2014, at the Presidential palace to discuss the ISIS issue.

          "Today's meeting is about what we must do to respond on the ISIS issue because this has been a hot topic at international levels," said the president.

         Yudhoyono expressed appreciation towards the Indonesian police for their efforts to prevent terror acts in the country. The president also called on the people to always be aware of the spread of ISIS in Indonesia.

             Among ministers attending the Sunday meeting were Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saefuddin, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Military Chief General Moeldoko, Police Chief General Sutarman and Chief of the Intelligence Agency Marciano Norman.

         In the meeting, President Yudhoyono also ordered tight security measures in the country, and particularly in supervision of terrorism convicts following an allegation that former terrorism convicts have joined ISIS.

         "There has been an instruction to limit the number of visits to and the movement of terrorism convicts," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto told the press  following the meeting chaired the head of state.      
    Djoko Suyanto quoted a report that a number of Indonesians leaving for Syria to join ISIS were those who had been convicted of  terrorism-related cases.

             The government would also step up the supervision of regions considered to be rampant to radical movement activities, he said, adding that the regions included Poso and Ambon (Maluku province).

             Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin said last July there were around 280 terrorism convicts locked up in 27 penitentiaries across the country.

            When paying a visit to the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT)'s deradicalization center in Bogor District, West Java Province, on August 8, 2014, President Yudhoyono  stated that he supported the establishment of special prison for terrorist convicts.

             "It is a good idea, but the location has to be taken into consideration," said Yudhoyono, commenting on the suggestion made by Chief of BNPT Ansyaad Mbai with regard to a special prison for terrorist convicts.

             However, Yudhoyono emphasized that the new prison must not become another version of Guantanamo prison. "We will not establish another Guantanamo, we respect human rights," said the president.

             Meanwhile, Ansyaad Mbai noted that 28 public prisons are available in Indonesia that host terrorist convicts. The idea of establishing special prison for terrorist convicts comes from the concern that the terrorist convicts may recruit other inmates at the public prison.

            In August 2014, the Cilacap Police Precinct in Central Java Province increased security at Nusakambangan prison following the circulation of a photo showing terrorist convict Abukabar Baasyir inaugurating other convicts to become ISIS members.

             "We will increase visiting hours and appoint additional officials to patrol the prison," said Chief of Cilacap Police Precinct Andry Triaspoetra, adding that illegal activities inside the prison must be curbed.

          As to the recruitment of ISIS members inside Nusakambangan prison, on an island off Central Java, and the presence of ISIS flag, Andry informed that the flag had been brought by a female visitor who had worn the flag as a veil.

         Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko recently expressed his concern about the possible spread of ISIS ideology in Indonesia, when he met  with leaders of  PP Muhammadiyah  and PB Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), two largest Islamic mass organization in the country to discuss issue over ISIS.

        Moeldoko said ISIS flag had been raised  in a number of areas  in the country such as  Solo, Jambi, Pekanbaru  and Aceh Timur.

         TNI wanted to hear inputs from Islamic organizations about indications of  ISIS presence in the country that early steps could be taken against the illegal movement, he said.

           "The spirit of NU and Muhammadiyah , which have high tolerance, is expected to prevent the penetration of the illegal ideology that could threaten  the national integrity," he said.

          The two influential Islamic organizations have declared their rejection of ISIS.

           Earlier, the BNPT has urged community organizations, scholars, religious leaders, including universities, to prevent the spread of the radical ideology in Indonesia.

            "The BNPT has established partnerships with several universities, especially with Islamic universities in Indonesia," he affirmed.

            Mbai has also urged the government to revoke the citizenship of those Indonesian citizens who have declared their support and sworn loyalty to ISIS.

          So far, the counter-terrorism agency has identified 34 Indonesian citizens who took oath to support the ISIS. They were taking the oath to obey an extraneous authority despite Indonesia being their own country.

            "They have clearly stated that they will not salute the national flag, nor sing the Indonesia Raya national anthem," he said.  Any such practice that does not follow their doctrine is considered a sin by them.

           Indonesia's Muslim leaders have condemned ISIS because in spreading its teachings, the ISIS justifies violence, such as beheading, suicide bombings, looting banks, mass murders, rapes, as well as damaging sanctuaries. ***1***
(f001/A014)