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Ministry admits difficulties in validating Bahrumsyah death rumors
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Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir. (kompas.com/Abba Gabrillin)
T
he Foreign Ministry said it could not yet confirm the validity of information on the death of an Islamic State (IS) leader from Indonesia, Bahrumsyah alias Abu Muhammad Al Indonesiy, as earlier reported by the group’s official news office, Anmaq Agency.
Anmaq reported Bahrumsyah was killed as a suicide bomber in Palmyra, Syria, on March 13.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said the ministry was facing difficulties in tracing the whereabouts of Bahrumsyah and other Indonesian citizens who became IS members. This was because no reports on their activities and departure to Syria were submitted by those people.
“That’s why we cannot clarify whether or not they have died. Measures or activities they have conducted are illegal, and we find it difficult to verify the information,” said Arrmanatha as quoted by kompas.com during a press briefing at the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta on Wednesday.
(Read also: Police investigate rumors of Bahrumsyah’s death)
He said their departure to Syria was different from other Indonesian people, who departed for Syria or other countries to work legally. Data of all Indonesian citizens departing abroad legally would be recorded at Indonesian embassies in the respective countries. Hence, if something reportedly happened to them, it would be easy for the Foreign Ministry to confirm it.
“We will easily trace their whereabouts, so we can inform their families in Indonesia,” said Arrmanatha.
Responding information released by Anmaq Agency, terrorism and intelligence researcher Ridlwan Habib said the news report on Bahrumsyah’s dead was valid. “In Indonesia, his followers have sent their prayers via social media,” he said on Wednesday.
Bahrumsyah was widely known as a skilled IS recruiter. He was the commander of the West Indonesia Mujahidin group. (ebf)
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