Turkish Deputy PM: We Must Share Intelligence On Terrorists

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bulent Arinc was the leader of the Turkish delegation at last week's Asia-Africa Summit and the 60th year commemoration of the Asia-Africa Conference in Jakarta and Bandung. "Our president [Recep Tayyip Erdogan] would have been here, but we are hosting the 100th anniversary of the Galligopoli War," he told Tempo. Arinc, 66, from the Turkish Justice and Development Party, spoke to Tempo reporters Purwani Diyah Prabandari and Natalia Santi amid his activities at the conference. Excerpts:

What are your expectations from this conference?

This conference gave us new opportunities. Yesterday we talked about terrorism. We met with representations from Africa and East Asia. The countries shared their problems about their own countries, of the need for peace in order to fight against terrorism. And for peace, for sustainable peace, we need democratic regimes. In this sense, international institutions must be more active.

Many Muslims from many countries, including those in Asia and Africa, have gone to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) or Jabhat al Nusra. How can the Turkish government prevent the spread of radicalism in its country?

There are many terrorist organizations in the world with different purposes. Turkey has been fighting with the separatist terrorist organization in the country for years. Also in surrounding countries in Asia and Africa, there are terrorist groups that claim themselves as Islamic groups. This is totally wrong because Islam has never condoned terrorism. Islam never allow crimes against humanity. Neither Islam or any other religion believes that it is okay or acceptable to kill or to do violence against humanity.

So, why do you think their 'movement' is grow bigger?

It's about illiteracy but let's acknowledge that organizations claiming to act under (Islam) use violence to kill and torture people. Turkey has a clear conscience against this. We will never allow, never let them live.

How will you do that?

We arrest and bring before justice those who act on behalf of these organizations. These organizations will never find a base of support or foundation in our country.

Why?

Because in Turkey, we have a strong Islamic education. Islamic education is provided in government schools, where Islam is explained in its essence, nature, and in the genuine way. With that kind of education, we have no space, no tolerance for terrorism.

But some Islamic groups do exist in Turkey's border with Syria and Iraq.

If there are people, and it's a small number, in Turkey who are under the influence of foreign propaganda and are sympathetic to those groups, we will put them take them to justice and of course punish them if necessary.

Many people who want to join ISIS or Jabhat al Nusra, including those from Indonesia, go to Syria or Iraq through Turkey. How does Turkey handle that?

What Turkey recommends to all countries is to monitor their people and to inform them about Turkey. If people leave for terrorist purposes, they must be stopped from leaving. Otherwise, we will find them and arrest them in Turkey.

Is there any record of how many radical Muslims go to Syria or Iraq through Turkey?

Within the last two years we have the names of 12,000 people and we have prevented their entrance into Turkey. For 1,700 people who already entered Turkey, we apprehend and return them to their respective countries.

Any recommendation on how to prevent sympathizers from joining radical groups operating in other parts of the world?

We need to have strong intelligence. And if there are people who have a tendency to get into such adventures, we must have intelligence on them and share that information with one another. (*)