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Terror fugitives to lose passports
Suspected: Police escort two suspected terrorists identified only as C (second right) and A (second left) through Sultan Hasanudin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday
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Suspected: Police escort two suspected terrorists identified only as C (second right) and A (second left) through Sultan Hasanudin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday. A is suspected of killing two police officers on Mount Tamanjeka in Poso, Central Sulawesi, while C is the Luwu Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) chairman and is suspected of harboring A. They were arrested in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday. (Antara/Sahrul Manda Tikupadang) (second right) and A (second left) through Sultan Hasanudin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday. A is suspected of killing two police officers on Mount Tamanjeka in Poso, Central Sulawesi, while C is the Luwu Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) chairman and is suspected of harboring A. They were arrested in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday. (Antara/Sahrul Manda Tikupadang)
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span class="inline inline-center">Suspected: Police escort two suspected terrorists identified only as C (second right) and A (second left) through Sultan Hasanudin Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday. A is suspected of killing two police officers on Mount Tamanjeka in Poso, Central Sulawesi, while C is the Luwu Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) chairman and is suspected of harboring A. They were arrested in Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, on Monday. (Antara/Sahrul Manda Tikupadang)
The government intends to revoke the passports of Indonesians named on the country's most wanted list in relation to terrorism to prevent them from traveling, an official said Wednesday.
The plan will also target people suspected of being members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group, Directorate General of Immigration spokesperson Heru Santoso Ananta Yudha said, adding that the policy would be implemented soon after the Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laolu issued the decree.
"We will definitely take action if there is a request from the relevant agencies. We will also work with the defense forces, such as the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI)," Heru told thejakartapost.com.
Immigration director general Ronny F Sompie said that revoking the passports of those on the most wanted list, who had also been issued travel bans, would effectively prevent the suspects from traveling abroad.
There are 297 Indonesians on the most wanted terror list. Before revoking their passports, the government will double check the status of the fugitives to be banned from entering or leaving Indonesia based on a request from the National Police.
University of Indonesia international law expert Hikmahanto Juwana said the government should revoke the passports only of those proven to have violated the Citizenship Law. He urged the government to be cautious about taking action against those not proven to have been involved in insurgency.
Hikmahanto also questioned the effectiveness of the measure in curbing terrorism, adding that complications were bound to be encountered.
The Citizenship Law stipulates that any Indonesian who joins a foreign country's military shall automatically lose their citizenship. However, officials are still debating whether the law applies in the case of IS, which has a military and controls territories in Syria and Iraq, but is not internationally recognized as a country. (rin)(+)
