Police Confirm Detachment 88 Operation Arresting Suspected Terrorists Not Criminalization

JAKARTA - The National Police confirms that the Detachment 88 Anti-terror action to arrest suspected terrorists is not criminalization. Densus 88 has strong evidence in handling terrorism cases.

“That the Densus action in this case is to prioritize public security and order. It has nothing to do with institutions or criminalization," said Head of the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 Anti-terror Assistance Section of the National Police, Kombes Aswin Siregar, to reporters, Wednesday, November 17.

Detachment 88 previously arrested Ustaz Farid Okbah (FAO), Ustaz Zain An Najah (ZA), and Ustaz Anung Al-Hamat (AA). The three of them are called the National Police as part of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) network.

"Where do we know the JI group is a banned group or organization based on court decisions that have been set in the Republic of Indonesia," said Aswin.

In addition, internationally the JI group is also declared a global terror organization as stated in UN resolutions.

"So anyone, someone who is affiliated or active in a group together with the Jamaah Oslamiyah group and goes through a process of proof, will be faced with a law enforcement process. So what must be underlined is not the clothes, not the outward appearance, not the status, so it is involvement in a group that has been declared a terror group," Aswin asserted.