Police In Support of Bringing Back Ex ISIS Indonesians

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) announced that it shares the same sentiment with the government upon sending home former Indonesian ISIS fighters who are currently in Syria.

However, Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Prasetyo said that these people will certainly not be accommodated home unconditionally. He asserted that they must be willing to participate in a state deradicalization program.  

"They certainly must undergo a clear assessment process,” said Dedi in Central Jakarta today, July 10.

Previously, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said that if the government wants to, it could easily bring those people back but he required these former Islamic States members to pledge allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) and the five state ideologies (Pancasila).

“They must pledge first. If they want to stay in Indonesia with their ISIS teachings, then they shouldn’t return home,” said Ryamizard at the ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday, July 9.

Chief of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Suhardi Alius argues there should be no plight in granting children of former Islamic States fighters a second chance to live a better life.

He also pitched for the government to form a specific task force upon handling their arrival even though he stressed that not all of the former ISIS fighters are allowed entry to Indonesia. The task force will later be assigned to closely monitor the Islamic States fighters activities in Syria, where they currently are.

“What’s more important is that we must be able to classify how far these people are radicalized so that we can provide a clear treatment,” said Suhardi.

ANDITA RAHMA

Read: Child Protection Ministry Responds to Plan of Ex ISIS Return