Govt Discusses Fate of 660 Indonesian Terrorist Fighters Abroad
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21 January 2020 22:33 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD said that the fate of 660 Indonesian foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) who are still overseas is being discussed among State-Ministries.
“We discussed whether they will be brought back home or not. And if they do, will it be all of them or just some of them,” said Mahfud MD at his headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday, January 21.
The coordinating minister referred to the meeting of cross-ministries and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) that talked about the government’s action in dealing with the Indonesian foreign terrorist fighters in Syria that mainly consist of women and children.
Following the meeting, Mahfud MD asserts that the government is faced with an issue regarding constitutional principle, as Indonesia’s constitution guarantees the rights of its citizens and must not let them be stateless.
"The constitution doesn’t allow that. But the problem is, some people fear [the FTFs] would become a virus if they get sent back home. A virus that would establish new terrorists," said Mahfud MD who also asserted that President Jokowi will be briefed about the issue soon.
EGI ADYATAMA
