Unlike The Kesbangpol Data, The Police Say There Are Around 30 NII Followers In Bandung

Bandung Police Chief Kombes Kusworo Wibowo/ ANTARA/HO

BANDUNG - Bandung Police Chief Kombes Kusworo Wibowo confirmed that the number of followers of the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) in Bandung Regency, West Java is only about 30 people. They will continue to be monitored by the authorities.

Previously, the local National and Political Unity Agency stated that 3,000 NII followers were still scattered in Bandung Regency. However, after checking, Kusworo said the figure was invalid.

"Then we checked, it turned out that there were only 30 people, because the organization is indeed not official, underground, so its membership is invalid," said Kusworo in Bandung, Antara, Friday, June 3.

So far the police have continued to carry out surveillance measures to be able to incorporate more tolerant ideas into the group. So that they can again pledge to be loyal to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"Being respectful of each other, so that things don't happen that are not desirable," said Kusworo.

Head of the National Unity and Political Agency Adjat Sudrajat admitted that his statement that there were still 3,000 NII followers was indeed wrong. Previously, he submitted the data based on claim information from former NII members.

"There was an error in the data, it was spoken to the intelligence cooperation department, so the data (claim) was from the NII sub-district head, so it was only based on word of mouth," said Adjat.

He also admitted that at that time former members of the NII had claimed the amount unfounded. So the data cannot be accounted for.

For future steps, his party will continue to monitor the banned organization so that it does not spread further in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. His party, he said, would encourage NII members who have now left and pledged to the Republic of Indonesia to be fostered and given training to have special skills.

"They will be held training, we will work together with the Manpower Office, so they have special skills to support their families," said Adjat.

Previously, as many as 50 people in Cileunyi Sub-district, Bandung Regency, West Java, on Monday, May 30, declared annul the NII's allegiance and returned to be loyal to the Republic of Indonesia.

They also declared that they would play an active role in maintaining the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.