Women walk past as Indonesian counterterrorism police raid a house in Malang, Indonesia on March 26. Police arrested three men in a series of raids that were part of a campaign to thwart the Islamic State group's influence. (Photo by Aman Rochman/AFP)
A former Indonesian counterterrorism official said the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris are a wake-up call for the country, while faith leaders, including Catholics, are also urging the public not to link terrorism with Islam.
Ansyaad Mbai, the former director of Indonesia's counterterrorism agency, told ucanews.com that Indonesians must not "fall asleep" when it comes to terrorism.
He claimed 302 Indonesian jihadists have gone to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State group, which has claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. Of these, 145 jihadists have returned home to Indonesia, 54 are dead, and the remainder are still fighting, Mbai said.
"Terrorists will continue to operate (in Indonesia)," he said. "Although we have intelligence, the agencies can also make mistakes."
Mbai said terrorism can easily grow in Indonesia, because there are already radical groups that promote violence against minority religions.
"In Indonesia, terrorism affiliated with (the Islamic State group) is strong," he said. "It has a direct connection with the growing penetration of radical doctrines by certain groups."
Slamet Effendy Yusuf, deputy chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, condemned the Paris attacks while warning that the Islamic State group already has a small foothold in Indonesia.
"It is small but very active," he said. "And we must not be deceived, like the French government."
Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country that is also extremely diverse, with Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and other faith groups also represented. The Islamic State group, Yusuf said, should be viewed as a common enemy for all, as they target non-Muslims as well as Muslims who have differing views.
Despite the horror caused by the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, as well as other violence claimed by terrorists, people should still avoid equating the Islamic State group with the religion of Islam, said Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, chairman of the Indonesian bishops' conference.
"Violence is never justified by any religion," he said. "In principle, the Catholic Church denounces all violence for any reason — moreover, violence in the name of God or religion."
"I hope the Indonesian government can learn from what happened in France and take immediate action to make sure that such an attack will not happen in Indonesia."