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View all search resultsSixteen Indonesians trying to reach Syria did not use travel agency
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Friday that 16 Indonesians being detained after attempting to cross the Turkish border into Syria, allegedly to join the Islamic State (IS) movement, did not use a travel agency, unlike a previous group
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F
oreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said on Friday that 16 Indonesians being detained after attempting to cross the Turkish border into Syria, allegedly to join the Islamic State (IS) movement, did not use a travel agency, unlike a previous group.
The 16 Indonesians, consisting of a man, four women and 11 children, are currently being held in the Turkish border city of Gaziantep, 97 kilometers north of Aleppo, Syria.
"They did not use a travel agent for tourists," Retno said at the Presidential Palace on Friday.
Last week, a different group of 16 Indonesians had reportedly separated themselves from a holiday tour party of 25 immediately after passing through immigration in Istanbul.
When asked whether the Indonesian government has found the motive for why the five adults being detained brought along 11 children on their trip on a route frequently used by supporters of IS militants, Retno only said, "They claimed to be planning to enter Syria. However, we need to dig into it [this claim] deeper."
National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution has said that the recruitment of IS fighters from Indonesia had jumped significantly between June and October last year. Saud estimated 514 Indonesians have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight with the IS movement.
Retno said Jakarta would "tighten all monitoring of [people's movements] entering and exiting the country", to anticipate more people trying to reach Syria to join the IS.
The Foreign Minister said that Indonesia was planning to discuss with Turkey efforts to strengthen cooperation on matters related to the IS. (***)(++++)
