Government Considering Amnesty for Members of Santoso Group

Jakarta, 1 Syawwal 1437/23 July 2016  (MINA) – The government is considering offering amnesty to 19 members of the Santoso-led alleged terrorist group after he was killed in an exchange of fire in Tambarana, Poso, Central Sulawesi, on July 18.

“We wish there are no more firing incidents there. If they wish to surrender and return into the community we would certainly be ready to consider settling their problems accordingly,” Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan said here Friday evening.

A thorough study had to be made case by case before a decision to give an amnesty could be made, so it could not happen soon, Luhut was quoted by Antara as saying.

An amnesty or an abolition is considered to be an effective approach for dealing with separatist groups in the country as has been done to members of an armed group led by Nurdin bin Ismail Amat alias Din Minimi in Aceh.

“They are, in principle, Indonesian citizens and so if they return to the countrys fold and work together with other community members, why would we not give them amnesty,” Luhut asked.

Despite the deaths of Santoso and his guard, Mukhtar, recently, the government would continue with the Tinombala Operation with regard to the arrest of 19 members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin group that remained.

During the firefight recently three members of the Santoso-led group managed to flee including Basri and his wife, and Santosos wife.

Santosos wife known by her name as Jumiatun Muslim, alias Atun alias Bunga, alias Umi Delima, is one of the three women among the 19 members of the armed civilian group.  (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)