Differences in political views, especially efforts to politicize terror attacks for electoral interests, must be avoided as this will only muddy the waters. If elites are united, people will join in the fight against terrorism.
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ANTARA FOTO/ZABUR KARURU
Police officers stand guard during a search on Thursday (17/5/2018) of a suspected terrorist residence in Pakis Hamlet, Surabaya, East Java. The residence was searched following the arrest of alleged terrorists at the house.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Unity among political elites is urgent at a time when the country faces imminent threats such as terrorism. Differences in political views, especially efforts to politicize terror attacks for electoral interests, must be avoided as this will only muddy the waters. If elites are united, people will join in the fight against terrorism.
“This does not mean that criticisms or differences of opinions on how to best fight terrorism are not allowed. Criticisms and differences of opinions are fine, but must not sacrifice principles such as unity in the country,” Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) deputy secretary-general Eriko Sotarduga said when contacted from Jakarta on Thursday (17/5/2018).
Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) executive Ahmad Riza Patria said he agreed with Eriko. Ahmad said that Gerindra chair Prabowo Subianto had also urged all national elements to stand united in the fight against terror.
“Politicizing issues of terrorism is wrong, improper and harmful,” he said.
Ahmad said he believed other political elites would agree with him, as evident in the ongoing deliberations of the Terrorism Law revision.
“All parties agreed that the law revision must be approved soon, at the end of May at the latest. This must immediately be implemented to strengthen our counterterrorism measures,” he said.
This Friday, the House of Representatives will begin its current sitting session. A meeting between the Terrorism Law revision special committee and government representatives to discuss the definition of terrorism in the law revision will be held on Wednesday next week.
Kopassus
The National Police continues its effort to unravel terror network across Indonesia. National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said the police would involve the Indonesian Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) in fighting terrorism.
“In order to unravel terror networks, the National Police Mobile Brigade [Brimob] will work together with Kopassus on joint field operations,” he said.
ANTARA FOTO/RISKY MAULANA
Officers of the Densus 88 counterterrorism squad guard the residence of a suspected terrorist during a search on Thursday (17/5/2018) in Jemaras, Klangenan, Cirebon regency, West Java. Densus 88 arrested two alleged terrorists of the JAD network.
One day after the attack on the Riau Police headquarters in Pekanbaru on Wednesday, the police arrested eight individuals in six different locations in Dumai, Riau.
“They are suspected of having knowledge about and in relation to the five alleged terrorists who attacked the Riau Police headquarters. Some of them have family relations with those who attacked the Riau Police headquarters,” National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Syahar Diantono said.
East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Machfud Arifin said 23 individuals had been arrested in East Java since the suicide bombings at three churches in Surabaya on Sunday.
“One person turned himself in. This is better than having us arrest him,” Machfud said.
The alleged terrorist identified as DL turned himself in to the National Police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism squad on Wednesday (16/5) night when he was about to be arrested.
Machfud said he urged all those who were involved in terror networks to turn themselves in to the police instead of having to continuously evade arrest.
East Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Frans Barung Mangera said that alleged terrorists and their networks could surrender to the police at the nearest police stations. Of the 23 persons who have been arrested, not all have been named suspects.
Machfud said the police were working with the V/Brawijaya regional military command to hold joint patrols to speed up security recovery in East Java.
East Java National Forum coordinator Achmad Nur Aminudin said the forum would establish reporting posts and increase vigilance in every neighborhood and community units to detect and anticipate the movements of alleged terrorists.
