REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's 16 regions have sleeper cells of ISIS, and every section of society should prevent its spread, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo stated at the House of Representative complex here, Thursday.
"Here, we have detected ISIS sleeper cells in 16 regions. They exist, indistinguishable and already blend in among us, so that will be a real danger if we do not immediately stop the influx of ISIS into the country," he added.
Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, Central Java, and East Java are among the regions that have sleeper cells of the radical group.
Nurmantyo said that the sleeper cells could become active any time, with the real indications of some bombing incidents that have been linked to ISIS.
The TNI has taken immediate steps by closing the ISIS' access to Indonesia's outermost islands, such as Marore, Miangas, Tahuna, and Kalawu.
Air operations and sea patrols have been conducted and submarines have been deployed to stop the movement of ISIS in North Maluku.
Taking into account the proximity between Indonesia and Marawi, the conflict-prone area in southern Philippines, where some 600 sympthatizers of ISIS reside, the TNI is continuously monitoring and is concerned about every development there.
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