'People linked to terror groups infiltrate Indonesian political party'
The party did not pass verification, says Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency.
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) has reportedly revealed that people affiliated with terrorist groups have become members of a political party in the nation.
BNPT chief Boy Rafli Amar was speaking at a national dialogue between his agency, the General Election Supervisory Agency, General Elections Commission and political parties in Jakarta on Monday, news reports in Bahasa Indonesia said.
"Affiliated, yes. (The political party) did not pass the verification. Because yes, we have received input from the start and God willing, those who pass are clear. So some of those that do not pass, as what we’re saying today, there are indications (of terror elements)," Boy was quoted as saying.
Boy said there was one political party that had members affiliated with terrorist groups. According to him, this political party will not be included in the list of participants in the 2024 election.
He did not name the political party or give more details of its identity.
Boy said it was a concern that intolerant groups would form a new party in the future.
"We have to be careful going forward, not to let them form a new party, whose manager later turns out to have an intolerant, radical or terrorist background. That’s the manager’s background,” Boy said.
“Not to mention the platform, so the party's principle platform cannot be separated from the state ideology of Pancasila. That's all we have to ensure.”
Earlier, during a discussion at the dialogue programme, Boy confirmed that there were indications that terrorists would infiltrate the 2024 elections.
He explained the “bullets-to-ballots” strategy of the intolerant groups to enter the democratic system.
"It's impossible for me to say there isnt’t any (such plot). But the truth is, there is. There has been a change in strategy from bullets to the ballot boxes. This change in strategy is a strategy for affiliated networks, including intolerant groups, to be part of a democratic party, to join our democratic system," Boy explained, adding BNPT is involved in the process of verifying political parties.
The BNPT has also been asked to vet new political parties’ manager candidates who may be affiliated with terrorist groups, Boy added.
Terror groups such as Jemaah Islamiyah and Jemaah Ansharud Dawlah, the former linked to al-Qaeda while the former to Daesh, are still active in Indonesia.
Both groups were blamed for bombings and suicide attacks across Indonesia over the years.