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Govt will use ‘soft approach’ to counter MIT members: BNPT
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Stay firm -- National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Suhardi Alius (center) speaks in a hearing on counterterrorism efforts at the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Sept.15. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
T
he National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has said it will strive to use non-military strategies to combat East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group members who remain at large.
BNPT chief Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius said security authorities should not underestimate the power of MIT members in launching terror attacks, although the arrest of the group’s leader Basri, alias Bagong, would weaken it further.
He said a radical mindset was unpredictable so that in many cases, militant group members pretended they had given up their struggle although in fact they continued to fight against parties they deemed to be their enemies.
"We’ll try to reduce their resistance by applying a soft approach and hopefully they will understand that this nation has a bigger purpose and that to live side-by-side would be more comfortable than to continue to live a life filled with revenge, fear and suspicion," Suhardi told reporters at the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday.
He said the BNPT would continue to implement a down-to-earth approach, saying the agency’s officials were scheduled to visit Poso, Central Sulawesi, where the MIT was based.
Since his inauguration in July, Suhardi has been committed to emphasizing a persuasive approach, in addition to the military approach the government used to combat terror groups. He aims to improve cooperation with religious leaders and civil society groups to enhance deradicalization efforts.
Basri was arrested by authorities in South Poso Pesisir on Wednesday. He took over the MIT leadership after Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, was shot dead in an ambush on July 18. (ebf)
