W

est Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Police have ordered their officers in 10 regencies and cities across the province to monitor a number of people believed to be supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militant group, also known as ISIS.

NTB Police chief Brig. Gen. Moechgiyarto said the measure was considered necessary following the recent discovery of videos espousing ISIL teachings in Bima regency.

'€œWe have instructed our forces to monitor these individuals. So far, there is no indication that anyone has offered jihadist support to Syria or joined ISIL to fight, but there is an indication they are giving support to ISIL,'€ he said on Friday after attending an NTB leadership communications forum at the National Unity and Community Protection Agency (Kesbanglinmas) in the provincial capital, Mataram.

He said all stakeholders should get involved to anticipate the possibility of ISIL supporters gaining a foothold in NTB, primarily via Islamic organizations under the coordination of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

Moechgiyarto said the NTB Police would also intensify their cooperation with clerics in mosques in order to emphasize that the views held by ISIL went against Islam and the state ideology Pancasila.

'€œIslam does not teach violence, such as has been committed by ISIL members,'€ he said.

Previously, the NTB People'€™s Forum on the Eradication of Terrorism said it knew of 30 people whom it believed had campaigned on behalf of the ISIL movement in Bima and other areas on Lombok.

Separately, NTB Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Suryo Saputro said police had discovered and seized the pro-ISIL videos in Bima, but they had not yet arrested anyone as, so far, no crime had been committed.

'€œHowever, we will keep them under surveillance as a precautionary measure,'€ he said.

In response to the widespread rumors of an ISIL presence in NTB, Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi has urged all members of the community in the province to be wary of extremist messages cloaked in the guise of religion. He also asked the public to differentiate between the struggle of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip from the ISIL uprising in Syria and Iraq.

'€œDon'€™t be influenced by an indistinct ideology. We appeal to the people to be careful and wary of new ideas, especially those relating to our religion,'€ Muhammad said.

Meanwhile in Kerinci regency, Jambi, the National and Political Unity Agency (Kesbangpol) is monitoring six Sri Lankans who carried out an iktikaf (a stay in a mosque to devote oneself to the worship of God) in several mosques in Pugu Semurup village, Air Hangat district.

Kerinci Kesbangpol head Ahmadi Zubir said he had deployed officials to check their travel documents.

'€œWe are afraid that if they are involved with ISIL, or another similar movement, it could threaten national stability,'€ he said on Friday.

He confirmed that based on the agency'€™s inspection, the six men were equipped with complete travel documents.

'€œThey arrived at our office yesterday. They are in Kerinci to carry out the iktikaf from Aug. 5 to 7,'€ Ahmadi said.

Earlier on Thursday, MUI chairman Din Syamsuddin issued a call to Muslims not to join the rebel group. Din said it was obvious that ISIL stood against Islamic teachings. The National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have also pledged to employ tough measures against ISIL.