Anti-terrorist squads stand guard outside the bombing site at Santa Maria church in Surabaya, capital of Indonesia's East Java province, on May 13, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Ideological education is the keyto counter-terrorism, said Beni Sukadis, Programme Coordinator of the IndonesiaInstitute for Defense and Strategic Studies (Lesperssi), following a series ofrecent deadly terrorist attacks in Surabaya city, Indonesia.
Continued terrorist attacks indicate the alarmingsecurity situation in Indonesia although the country’s security forces have strengthenedprotective measures ahead the holy month of Ramadan, according to Sukadis.
The suicide bombings in Surabaya as well as a prison riotin Depok earlier this month were all related to extremist groups linked to theself-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) and it is particularly disturbing thatterrorists in these cases are family members, including children.
The attackers have been impregnated with violentextremism and it is not easy to stop them, he noted, suggesting that thoughsuch extremist ideologies cannot be completely eliminated from society but itis possible to minimise them through socio-economic and educational measuresand communications.
The expert believed that Indonesia should takecomprehensive steps, covering a variety of aspects from socio-economic affairs,and education to communications. The most important is to educate children infamilies and at schools, he said, stressing on the significant role of parents,neighbours and the community.
Sukadis also voiced his support for the Indonesian Government’smove to adopt the Anti-terrorism Law and advised the government to enhancecooperation with ASEAN nations in counter-terrorism efforts as terrorism hasbecome a regional issue.-VNA
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