REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The disseminators of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ideology should be punished severely and firmly, Commissioner of Education of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Susanto stated.
"The state should not show leniency to the disseminators of ISIS ideology. Indonesia has enormous fortitude to prevent the spread of ISIS ideology," Susanto emphasized here on Wednesday.
According to Susanto, Indonesia has several influential individuals and powerful instruments such as the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), the national police's counter-terrorism unit, Detachment 88, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Education and Culture.
"In Indonesia, there are several religious and social community organizations, which are the strength and fortress of our civilization," he remarked.
In addition, Susanto hoped that parents can shield their children from the influence of ISIS. Parents should be careful in choosing religious mentors for their children.
Earlier, Minister of Informatics and Communication Rudiantara remarked that his office has been coordinating with YouTube to counter ISIS videos promoting terrorism.
"We have (done it), and we will continue coordinating with YouTube. YouTube is part of Google and Google has an office here, so if something happens, we may just directly go there," he said here on Tuesday.
As an example, he referred to the recent blocking of a video showing Indonesian children participating in an ISIS training program.
"Yesterday, the video (showing Indonesian children participating in an ISIS training program) vanished in just an hour. YouTube helped a lot. Our cooperation has been good," he added.
He admitted that blocking sites propagating terrorism and radicalism has been more difficult than blocking porn sites because porn sites are usually commercial and hence have clear keywords.
"If there are xxx, well, that is it. It is clearly a porn site. Their keywords are easier to find. In the case of terrorism or radicalism sites, their keywords are 'abracadabra,'" he explained.
According to the minister, his office has stepped up vigil to counter radicalism and terrorism spread by ISIS through cyber networks.
Last Saturday, Indonesian police's counterterrorism squad arrested six people for allegedly assisting and sponsoring Indonesians' travel to Syria to join ISIS.
The six were arrested in Jakarta, Tangerang, and Bekasi on the same day. Of the arrested people, only four were actively involved in recruitments, the police claimed.
The police have identified the four as Aprianul Henri, Engkos Koswara, Fachry, and Muhammad Amin Mude. Besides funding and recruiting Indonesians for ISIS, they also prepared propaganda material for the Islamic State, police spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto pointed out.
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