Turkey Asks Indonesia To Beware Of FETOs

JAKARTA - Turkey has asked the Government of Indonesia and organizations in the country to be aware of what it calls the Terrorist Organization Fethullah Gulen (FETO) and take preventive measures against their activities. Several members of the organization are still actively pursuing pro-FETO efforts in Indonesia such as running restaurants and engaging in cultural and academic activities as well as organizing conferences and events," said the Turkish Embassy in Jakarta in a press statement in Jakarta reported by ANTARA, Saturday, July 15. The Turkish Embassy said that the final purpose of the FETO was to become influential actors in Indonesian society and participate in politics in order to gain sufficient strength to serve FETO and provide financial support to the organization. Turkey's major embassy said FETO was trying to build closer ties with the Indonesian academic community by inviting leading academics to participate in their events. Turkey emphasized that any personal or academic contact with individuals in FETO contradicts the spirit of friendship and brotherhood between Indonesia and Turkey.

"Therefore, we ask Indonesia to continue to be aware of FETO activities because they pose a threat not only to Turkey as well as to the brotherhood of the Indonesian nation," continued the Turkish Embassy. FETO is the group that launched the failed coup on July 15, 2016 which killed 251 people and injured more than two thousand others. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan designated July 15 as Democracy Day and National Unity to commemorate those killed in the incident, as well as the people and Turkish security forces who thwarted the coup attempt.