Indonesia intensifies monitoring against nationals returning from Syria

Indonesia has intensified monitoring measures against its nationals already returned from Syria and the network of radical groups allegedly linked to Islamic States (IS), a senior police officer said on Wednesday.

The measure was implemented as part of Indonesia's precaution efforts and security improvement following the recent deadly attacks in Paris conducted by IS operatives that killed more than 130 people.

"We would tighten the monitoring activities on their networks. Our personnel on the field have been aware of the existence of such a network," Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian said, adding that the monitoring would be focused on 46 nationals who returned from Syria.

Tito said that Indonesian nationals allegedly planned to join the IS in Syria seemed increasing this year than that of last year. Citing to intelligence data, Tito said that 384 Indonesians have been confirmed to travel to Syria at present.

"But the actual number of people planning to fly there could be more than that," he added.

Tito said that even though Indonesia does not join the coalition of countries conducting air strikes against IS stronghold areas in Syria, Indonesia remains vigilant in improving its security.

"Even as of now we are yet to join the coalition, we cannot neglect the possibility of their attacks here. They have their own ideology, which is different from us," Tito added.

He said that Indonesia saw several attacks and foiled the attempts to assassinate the country's senior officials planned by radical groups in their efforts to establish an Islamic State in Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim population country, has banned the spread and development of IS ideology in the nation as it does not fit with the ideology officially adhered by people in Indonesia. Endit