Menko Polhukam Admits That Some WNI Who Going to Overseas Join ISIS

Menko Polhukam Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno

Coordinating Minister for Politic, Legal and Security (Menko Polhukam) Tejo Edhy Purdijatno indicated, currently, there are many Indonesian citizen (WNI) who going abroad secretly to join the radical movement Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“Indeed there are citizens who going abroad, but they disappeared. We’ve been aware of and data from the Police had entered, the data from the National Intelligence Agency (BIN),” said Coordinating Minister Polhukam told reporters after accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), attended the Rapimnas of TNI and Polri, at the auditorium of STIK, Jakarta, Tuesday (3/3) .

Menko Polhukam asserted, that it will seek to counteract those who going abroad to join the radical movement.

Regarding the data that have been revealed by the Chairman of the Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) KH. Aqil Siraj that there are already 514 citizens who become members of ISIS, Coordinating Polhukam pointed out that there is a new mode of departing via travel agent (tour) to certain point and then disappear.

“This is one of the modes; the data already exists in the police and BIN. Until the time they return to their homeland, everything is in travel agency, we check anyone who did not return,” Menko Polhukam said.

He said, in an effort to be aware of the threat of terrorism, the government has taken many ways to do prevention, either through religion, culture, and education.

But Menko Polhukam, Tejo Edhy Purdijatno emphasized that the government will not restrict WNI, especially students who will go to the countries in the Middle East.

“Not restricted. As it might seem obvious, if they are students there, certainly well documented in Indonesian embassy in that country, he concluded. (Humas Setkab/ES)