Camelia Pasandaran – In some of his strongest comments against terrorists yet, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday called on all Indonesians to join the government in combating terrorism and their plans to establish an Islamic state governed by Shariah law.
"I call for all Indonesian people to join together in saving the nation, saving our people, saving us all from the terrorism threat and from irresponsible parties that act beyond the limits of humanity," Yudhoyono said at Halim Perdana Kusuma airport in East Jakarta before leaving for an informal visit to Singapore.
"I also hope that all Indonesian regions, provinces, districts and municipalities, all regional leaders, military and police personnel, and all other parties remain alert and active and to contribute to preventing the development of terrorism in their own areas," he said. "This is to save our children, our young generation, from being trapped by terrorism crimes."
The National Police have recently arrested and killed several terrorist suspects in Aceh, Central and West Java, and Jakarta. The police have revealed that the terrorists were planning to assassinate the president and high-ranking officials in a bid to create an Islamic state.
Laying out the evidence and identifying the suspected terrorists arrested or killed since operations began in the mountains of Aceh in February, National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri recently described the plot to attack the Presidential Palace during Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17.
Yudhoyono, speaking to journalists in offices adjoining the runway, said that several important terrorists had been arrested in the past but when they were released from jail fell back into their terrorist ways.
"What we're actually facing now is those who have been controlling [the terror movement in Indonesia] for the last ten years... with some more new members," he said.
"What is interesting is the target of the terror," he said. "In the past, they targeted foreigners, but now they are targeting our nation, our country, our government as the main target. They want to build an Islamic state, something that has been finished with in our history."
Yudhoyono said that though Indonesia was not an Islamic state, Indonesia respected Islam and had adopted its values and aspects of its laws in building the nation.
"But if this group wants to push its intention to change the nation's ideology, change the Constitution and the nation's foundation, it is unacceptable for the Indonesian people. They're against democracy while democracy is the result of reformation."