CLOSER REGIONAL COOPERATION VITAL TO FIGHT AGAINST FOREIGN TERRORIST FIGHTERS by Fardah

Jakarta, July 31, 2017 (Antara) - Indonesia, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the Philippines have agreed to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in counterterrorism amid the growing threat of radicalism resulting in violent extremism and terrorism in the region.

         The six neighboring countries reached the agreement during the First Sub-Regional Meeting On Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) and Cross Border Terrorism held in Manado, North Sulawesi, on July 29, 2017.

        The meeting, co-hosted by Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto and Australian Attorney-General Senator George Brandis, was focused on developing and coordinating responses to the threats posed by FTF returning to and operating in the sub-region.

         FTF pose a real threat to the Southeast Asian region, according to Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, head of the Counterterrorism Agency.   
    "FTF are a real threat in the Southeast Asian region that needs to be dealt with jointly," he had noted in a press statement.

          Southeast Asian countries need to step up vigil against the threat of FTF following a military operation by the Philippines in Marawi against armed groups allegedly belonging to the ISIS network, he remarked following the Manado meeting.

         Members of Indonesia's delegation in the meeting included Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, Chief of the Indonesian Police General Tito Karnavian, Chief of Staff of General Affairs of the Indonesian Defense Forces Vice Admiral Didit Herdiawan Ashaf, Communication and Informatics Minister Rudiantara, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Head of the Indonesian Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Kiagus Ahmad Badaruddin, and Suhardi Alius.

        Other heads of delegation included Philippine National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes Esperon Jr, New Zealand Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee MP, Malaysian Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Dato¿ Masir Kujat, and Brunei Darussalam Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Dato Hamdan Abu Bakar.

        Ministers attending the meeting expressed grave concern over the threat and agreed that it is vital to respond collectively in a manner that is coordinated, strategic, and pursued at all government levels along with private players and civil society.

         They agreed to establish a Foreign Terrorist Fighters Strategic Forum to enhance information sharing and synchronize priorities among law enforcement and intelligence agencies from across the sub-region, including by utilizing existing databases and/or establishing databases on FTF and cross-border movements of terrorists.

          They also agreed to hold a roundtable meeting on the management of terrorist prisoners and to study each nation's counterterrorism laws.

          The final communiqué also commits to forging greater collaboration between the six nations' border control agencies and strengthening cooperation between financial intelligence units
    As part of soft approaches, the ministers agreed to enhance efforts and cooperation in addressing the root causes and underlying conditions of terrorism through countering violent extremism programs, such as strengthening social cohesion, education, women's empowerment, public awareness and economic development, as well as developing effective counter-narrative frameworks.

        Recognizing the significant role of social media in preventing the spread of terrorism and radicalism, the six countries agreed to engage the industry-led Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism to ensure that the forum reflects the unique challenges faced by the region.

        "One point agreed at the meeting is to seek cooperation among the six countries  and companies offering social media, video file sharing and messaging services," Minister Wiranto.

         He said the  cooperation with social media companies is a counter measure against terrorists who also used social media in seeking to recruit sympathizers.

         Besides, the meeting agreed to strengthen cooperation and capacity building among financial intelligence units, including through the Counter Terrorism Financing Summit, and the critical role of the private sector in countering terrorism financing.

    The next Sub-Regional Meeting on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Cross Border Terrorism will be held in 2018.

          Meanwhile, a law enforcement dialog on the issue of ISIS will be co-hosted by the Australian Federal Police and the Indonesian National Police in August this year and will bring together key stakeholders affected by ISIS.

          "The collapse of the ISIL caliphate, as we achieve victory in that civil war in the Middle East, throws up a new range of problems," Senator Brandis said while speaking in the Manado meeting.

         "In particular, the problem relates to foreign fighters seeking to rebase themselves elsewhere in the world, including in this region," Brandis added.

         Indonesian Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu recently revealed that some 700 Indonesian citizens have become ISIS sympathizers.

       He believed that the figure is yet to be a cause of major concern, but it does not mean that the government should not take serious measures to eradicate radical influences, suspected to have been planted in the minds of sympathizers.

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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 31-07-2017