TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the government will focus on soft approach to clamp down on terrorism. The approach will also be used against 19 members of Santoso-led terrorist group still hiding in Poso mountains.
According to Luhut, despite the ongoing operation Tinombala in Poso, the government has called upon 19 remaining members of the group to turn themselves in. “If they all get off [the mountain], we will consider pardoning them because they are Indonesian citizens, too,” Luhut said at the Parliamentary complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, July 21, 2016.
Luhut said that the government expects to combat terrorism issue through cultural and religious approaches instead of a repressive one, as has been carried out by the West. “It’s our choice as the party responsible for the security. It’s the best way,” he said.
Despite opting to take preventive measures, it does not necessarily mean that the government is incapable of addressing terrorism through repressive approach.
“Santoso, for example, he was shot dead because soft approach did not work,” he said.
AHMAD FAIZ
