REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NUSA DUA -- The National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) has increased its vigilance to prevent the entry of the Uighur group from China who are looking to join the terrorist network of Santoso.
"We need a deterrent to discourage their willingness to join the Santoso group by improving our vigilance with high preparedness," Director of Protection BNPT Brigadier General Herwan Chaidir said here Saturday, after speaking at a seminar titled "The prevention and control of criminal acts of terrorism in hotels and restaurants".
The seminar was a series of national working meetings of Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants, which was held in Nusa Dua city, Badung district, in Bali province.
Immigration officers legally have been tightening inspections in anticipation of the influx of Chinese ethnicity to Indonesian territories, according to him.
However, he dismissed any talk of the government being fooled by the entry of a Chinese group to join the terrorist network led by Santoso.
Indonesia's vast territories with numerous entry points present an opportunity for the group to enter Indonesia, he emphasized.
The group probably entered through Utata Sulawesi region since the group has been established, or about two years ago, by first doing surveys of the location, Chaidir further explained.
"They move after surveying the location, and do not directly enter," he added.
After finding the location with the same idea, they joined the Santoso group and underwent military training.
The entry of the Uighurs to Santoso's terrorist network was revealed after two members of the Chinese group were killed in a crossfire with the police and military officers. The crossfire happened when the Tinombala Operation took place in Poso to hunt down Santoso.
The separatists allegedly wanted to secede from China, and then utilized the network of the Santoso group to practice, hide and carry out a jihad.
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