TEMPO.CO, Bandung – West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said the police had yet to detect any supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the province. He added the West Java Police, however, were still conducting investigations and disseminating information to the public against the spread of ISIS ideology in tandem with intelligence networks and public figures.
“The anticipation is done through early detection measures depending on the developments in the field. There was a coordination meeting of regional intelligence yesterday, involving the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Armed Forces (TNI), the prosecutor’s office, society elements and religion and public figures,” he said at the Bandung Police headquarters on Tuesday, August 5, 2014.
Iriawan said the preventive measures against ISIS ideology taken by the government were also involving the people. Iriawan believed that public rejection against the ideology would keep it from spreading.
“Because the most effective way to block ISIS was through activities that involved the people. They (ISIS) will leave if the people do not accept it,” he said.
Iriawan, however, declined to detail the potential of ISIS spread in the province and the areas susceptible to it. “I’m the only one who knows those areas. But there has been no indication of the presence of ISIS organizations in the province,” he said.
ERICK P. HARDI
