Police Arrests 74 Suspected Terrorist in 6 Provinces

Chief of the Indonesian National Police delivers press statement after a Limited Meeting at the Presidential Office, Tuesday (22/5) (Photo: Rahmat/Jay)

After investigation, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) presumed that Surabaya bombing has connection with terror attack on the Riau Police headquarters in Pekanbaru and riot at the Mobile Brigade headquarters (Mako Brimob) which carried out by Jamaah Ansharud Daulah (JAD) terrorist group that pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

The  Chief  of Polri General Tito Karnavian, in his press statement on Tuesday (22/5), asserted that Polri supported by Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) have taken action thus 74 suspected terrorists – 14 of them died during raids for resisting arrest –  are arrested in a period of 8 days (13 – 21 May 2018).

“As many as 31 people are arrested in East Java, 8 in West Java, 16 in Banten, 4 in Southern Sumatra, 9 in Riau, and 6 in Northen Sumatra,” Tito told the reporters after a limited meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (22/5).

According to Tito, the Police also seized explosive bombs, bomb making materials including batteries, switch, and others.

Therefore, the Chief of Polri, the Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Head of National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs have told President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo about the urgency to take comprehensive measures against terrorism.

The President as well as Vice President gave directives to tackle this problem in a more comprehensive manner. That means, beside enforcing law to the terrorist network, particularly those violating the law, the Government also conducting soft power measures in order to stop the spread of terrorist ideology.

“I need to stress that terrorist ideology does not belong to any religion,” Tito firmly said.

The Polri Chief also said that soft power measures are including economic development, by involving the stakeholders, such as the Government as well as community, and intensive promotion of  other ideology, namely Pancasila (Five Principles).

In addition to that, the Government will implement a more humanistic approach and will  provide insights in order to eliminate terrorist ideology. This effort will also involve  the community.

According to Tito, the Polri urged Revision of the Law Number 15 of 2003 on the Eradication of Terrorism Crime to be completed immediately so the Police can take more comprehensive measures.

In the Law, the implementation of comprehensive measures is not sufficient. It more decribes the Bali Bombing case. With new law, the Polri Chief hopes it will provide comprehensive measures that not only involving various parties, but also upholding the values of democracy, and human rights.

“The measures are ranging from prevention to involvement of various parties,” Tito firmly said.

Tito reminded all that terroist attack is only a tip of the iceberg, while the root of the problem covering comprehensive issues such as, economy, ideology, inequity, dissatisfaction, and other issues, should also be solved.

“Terrorism act does not done in an instant. In fact, it takes a long process, including the act in Surabaya,” Tito added.

Thus, the President instructed (the Police) to take comprehensive measures, both hard power that covers law enforcement actions involving related stakeholders including BIN, TNI, and BNPT, and soft power covering from prevention to post-event measures, particulary to change terrorist ideology.  (FID/ES) (RAS/MMB/Naster)