Indonesia, Australia beef up anti-terrorism cooperation

Sydney (VNA) – Indonesia and Australia discussed ways to beef up cooperation in countering terrorism at their second Ministerial Council on Law and Security meeting in Sydney on June 8.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan while the Australian team was headed by Attorney-General George Brandis and Justice Minister Michael Keenan.

Speaking at the meeting, Luhut Pandjaitan expressed his confidence in further cooperation between the two countries in tackling terrorism, in which they will share intelligence and help each other in capacity building in a number of areas.

The event serves as a forum to coordinate the roles the two countries must play in connection with international security and anti-terrorism operations.

The two sides discussed several areas of mutual concern and interest, such as sources of militants financing, de-radicalisation, cyber-security and threats posed by foreign fighters.

Indonesia has identified about 500 Indonesian fighters in Syria who want to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia, Luhut said, adding that the information has been shared with Australia so that the two sides can work together to counter this threat.

A joint media release by Australia stated that the meeting provides an important opportunity to discuss the financing of terrorism in the lead up to the second Regional Counter Terrorism Financing Summit which will be jointly hosted by Indonesia and Australia in Bali in August.

The first Indonesia-Australia Ministerial Council on Law and Security meeting took place in Jakarta in December last year.-VNA