Trilateral Meeting on Marawi: 3 Countries Exchange Terrorism Data

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry will participate at the trilateral meeting with Malaysia and Philippines following the conflict in Marawi. The police, military, and counterterrorism agency of each country will also be invited to the event held on June 22 in Manila. The three countries will exchange intelligent information on terrorism network, among others.

"We have to sit together to compare notes,” said Foreign Affairs Ministry official Lalu Muhammad Iqbal at a press conference Tuesday, June 20.

Read: Indonesia Philippines Malaysia to Discuss Marawi Crisis

According to him, the event will also reduce the unconfirmed information like what happened earlier when the Philippine government informed that an Indonesian national died or involved with a certain terrorist group in Marawi.

The data exchange is aimed at supporting the problem of terrorism in the three Southeast Asian countries. "With the information, we may know in which [terrorism] network he/she (the Indonesian citizen) is with," he said. "Every network has its own characteristic and we have a broad experience to face each of them."

Read: SE Asia Trilateral Cooperation Evolved to Counter Marawi Crisis

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed that the trilateral meeting, which will be attended by Minister Retno Marsudi, will discuss the post-security measure after the Marawi crisis. "The purpose is to discuss the situation in Marawi, South Philippines, and the impact to our region," he said.

The trilateral meeting was initiated by Minister Retno since two weeks ago. However, the commencement was delayed due to the martial law status set in the Philippines. "We need to get a brief information from the Philippine government on the challenge or how far they have handled the situation. And Indonesia and Malaysia will definitely give their views," Arrmanatha said.

YOHANES PASKALIS