Interior Ministry, Counterterrorism Agency Sign MoU
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and Head of the Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Suhardi Alius signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in counterterrorism and deradicalization here, Monday.
The activities included under the cooperation are national character building for current and former terror convicts, former terrorists, relatives, and their networks.
The ministry and agency also agreed to fight and prevent radicalization.
“The MoU is a concrete step taken by the Home Affairs Ministry and BNPT to optimize the implementation of the counterterrorism program,” Alius noted.
The agency has, so far, intensively implemented the deradicalization program targeting former terror convicts and terrorists as well as their relatives across Indonesia.
“We are committed to looking for the best solution for current and former terror convicts, ex-terrorists, families, and their networks efficiently and effectively to reduce the spread of radicalism and terrorism in the regions,” he noted.
He urged regional administrations to help fight terrorism and implement deradicalization programs by carrying out public awareness programs, training courses, legal enforcement, and intelligent supervision.
The Home Affairs Ministry has suggested the BNPT to use population data for counterterrorism activities.
“The analyzed data will later be used to step up supervision of infiltrators and influx of goods and ideologies that run counter to the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution,” he added.
Minister Kumolo remarked that the MoU is crucial to support counterterrorism programs involving regional administrations at the provincial, district, and municipality levels.
“This is also important to detect terror threats emerging in the public in the early stage,” he noted.
He cited Riau Islands Province as a region prone to infiltration.
Riau Islands Province has some 300 small entry points in its borders shared with neighboring countries.
“Strict vigil has to be maintained to prevent terrorists from infiltrating,” he added.
courtesy : AntaraNews.com , Kendari Pos
[social_warfare buttons=”Facebook,Pinterest,LinkedIn,Twitter,Total”]
