BNPT Gandeng TNI-Polri-Kemensos Edukasi Masyarakat Bisa Terima Prisoner Terorisme

Illustration. Three convicts in terrorism cases pledge allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia at Semarang Prison, Tuesday, November 14. (ANTARA-HO-Semarang Prison)

JAKARTA - Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General of Police Eddy Hartono said his party continues to educate the general public to be able to receive back terrorism convicts (prisoners).

Education, he said, was carried out jointly through the Implementation Coordination Team for Outside Correctional Institutions.

"The contents are the TNI, Polri, and the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos)," said Eddy at the launch of the State Children's Book at the Syrian Conflict Market and the screening of Road to Silence in Jakarta, Thursday, February 27, which was confiscated by Antara.

In addition to education, he said, a team from BNPT will also take prisoners who have been released from punishment to return to their homes to be witnessed and accepted by the public.

Not only a team from BNPT, he continued, the return of prisoners who have finished serving their sentences will also be escorted by the District Leadership Deliberation (Muspika), the Military Rayon Commander (Danramil), the Village Guidance Officer (Babinsa), Security and Public Order (Kamtibnas), and community leaders.

He said the same thing applies to Indonesian citizens (WNI) associated with foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) who were deported from Turkey by the end of 2024, with the aim of joining Syria.

After undergoing guidance and rehabilitation, the Indonesian citizens will also be escorted when they return home. The people around their homes will also be given education so they can accept the Indonesian citizens.

Eddy explained that as many as 14 Indonesian citizens are currently in the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) to be fostered with material on national, religious, and entrepreneurial insight by involving psychologists and religious experts.

"So after we were fostered, now they are at the Ministry of Social Affairs," he said.

He emphasized that his party is ready to accept Indonesian citizens associated with FTF in Syria and other deported countries to be fostered in the country without certain requirements.

However, BNPT will still identify the Indonesian citizens before entering Indonesia to seek information on involvement in criminal acts of terrorism.

If the Indonesian citizen concerned is involved in a criminal act of terrorism, it will be directly handled by the Special Detachment 88 Anti-Terror Police, but if he is only a victim or his family becomes a victim in Syria, he will be assisted in an integrated manner by BNPT.

"Essentially, the 1945 Constitution mandates that every Indonesian citizen must be protected," said Eddy.