Jakarta, December 9, 2024 – The Europe Today: The Indonesian government, through the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), is deepening its bilateral cooperation with Slovakia in combating terrorism at national, regional, and global levels. This partnership, which has been growing since 2019, aims to address the increasingly complex global challenges posed by terrorism, with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups such as children.
In a statement released on Monday, BNPT’s Deputy for International Cooperation, Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, highlighted the need for both countries to focus on the protection of children who are victims of terrorism. “We also focus on protecting children exposed to conflict, such as the RD case in Slovakia,” Chrisnayudhanto remarked, underscoring that children are victims of terrorism and not perpetrators. He expressed hope that this issue would attract international attention and collaborative efforts to safeguard affected children.
Chrisnayudhanto further emphasized the evolving nature of global terrorism, noting that women and children have increasingly become not only victims but also perpetrators of extremist acts. “Although countermeasures have shown positive results, the threat remains, especially with the involvement of women and children in terrorist activities,” he said.
Slovakia’s Senior Specialist Referent from the Police Anti-Terrorism Center, Major Martin Baran, shared insights into the challenges Slovakia faces, particularly in combating terrorism from self-radicalized individuals and returning refugees from conflict zones. Baran highlighted the country’s focus on using advanced technology to monitor online radicalization, alongside strengthening border control and enhancing intelligence sharing. “This is very important in preventing extremism and supporting deradicalization efforts,” he affirmed.
Both countries are committed to developing a more comprehensive approach to counterterrorism, from prevention to victim rehabilitation. Ongoing discussions will address the implementation of their agreed strategies, with further meetings planned to review the progress of existing programs.
The cooperation between Indonesia and Slovakia is poised to set a strong example for international collaboration in tackling the global threat of terrorism. The two nations continue to share experiences and strategies, particularly in child protection and deradicalization, aiming to create a productive model for bilateral cooperation in the international community.
