ASEAN-Australia Strengthen Collaboration Against Terrorism

ASEAN and Australia delegates at the ASEAN-Australia Counter Terrorism in Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali, Friday (19/5/2023). (ANTARA/Rolandus Nampu)

DENPASAR - ASEAN together with Australia continue to strengthen collaboration in building regional security in fighting terrorism and violent-based extremism.

Deputy for International Cooperation of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Andhika Chrisnayudanto, in a counterterrorism dialogue meeting entitled "ASEAN-Australia Counter Terrorism", said there were several important issues discussed in the event.

"Regarding efforts to rehabilitate and reintegrate former terrorists, the point is how we can return the former terrorists to society," Andhika said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 19.

In the dialogue, the ASEAN-Australia cooperation forum prioritized strengthening the mental capacity and reintegration of former terrorists to the community in collaboration with the civil community.

"Then, about online environmental. So, how countries in the ASEAN region and Australia respond to the issue of threats of online abuse, whether it is the internet, social media that can be misused by terrorists or terrorist groups," he explained.

Furthermore, it was also discussed regarding efforts to strengthen registration, online platform cooperation to ward off the dangers of violent-based radicalism, terrorism, and extremism. Then, it was also discussed about how ASEAN responded to the crisis response in the event of an incident of terrorism.

Andika said one of the goals of the terrorists was to promote information and terror that they were the perpetrators and had succeeded in carrying out attacks to create public fear.

With the meeting, he continued, it is hoped that the two regions' government will have adequate equipment in preventing information dissemination from terrorists.

The forum also agreed to strengthen cooperation with various social media platforms to cut the narratives spread by terrorists.

"Then, the issue of how to build community resilience. We will see the main basis, when we talk from upstream to downstream, is the community's resilience to the expansion of terrorism extremism," he said.

For the Indonesian government itself, said Andika, the various topics discussed in the meeting were very relevant because Indonesia and Australia have a dark history of acts of terrorism, especially the Bali Bombing incident.

On the one hand, he continued, human values are one of the reasons why ASEAN and Australia strengthen cooperation. On the other hand, in 2018, ASEAN and Australia agreed on a memorandum of understanding regarding counter-terrorism which was marked by the declaration of counter-terrorism.

Meanwhile, NCB Interpol Indonesia Secretary Divhubinter Polri Brigadier General Amur Candra Juli Buana welcomed the meeting positively because terrorism is a common enemy that must be fought.

"We take care of our respective countries not to infect other countries. We are very grateful that there was this meeting, the benefits are very large for the Police. We have an obligation to support data to all Interpol member countries because we are theleadshepherd regarding terrorism in ASEAN, we are expected by all ASEAN members to support information," said AmurCandra.