For BNPT, Foreign Terrorist Fighters Is Still A Serious Threat For Southeast Asia

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - For BNPT, Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) is still a threat to the security of the Southeast Asian region. Especially for Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

"The issue of FTF is currently still a challenge that must be overcome as soon as possible, the movement of citizens to conflict areas to support terrorist groups must not be repeated in the future," said BNPT Head Komjen Boy Rafli Amar, in a written statement, Thursday, October 13, quoted from Antara.

Boy emphasized that each country must not be careless. It is open to the possibility of its citizens making cross-border movements to join international terrorist organizations.

Along with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the lax travel restrictions between regions, according to him, have the potential to become a gap that FTF uses to carry out cross-border movements. FTF could join the ISIS terrorist group or the Al-Qaeda network.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Representative banyan Macfarlane supports UNODC to understand the threats posed by FTF and its affiliates in Southeast Asia.

According to him, communication is an important part in preventing threats from FTF returning to its country.

"Management of FTF and its families is a common challenge for many countries and territories, international cooperation, information sharing and communication are essential to managing returnees that could threaten our security," said forced Macfarlane.

A total of three ASEAN countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, met in Bali to discuss the threat of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF) on October 11 to 12, 2022. Along with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic, the threat of FTF increased by crossing various countries.

Acting as the organizer is the National Counterterrorism Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNPT RI) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Delegations from Indonesia are BNPT and Densus 88 Anti-terror. Likewise from Malaysia and the Philippines, represented by stakeholders related to terrorism.