JAKARTA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government has prepared for returns of hundreds of the country's citizens who have become foreign terrorist fighters in several nations, a senior minister said on Tuesday.
Indonesian Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD noted that some of about 660 Indonesian nationals classified as foreign terrorist fighters have been requested to be repatriated and others have been urged by foreign governments to exit their nations.
"The meeting discussed matters on whether or not they will be repatriated. If we will return them home, will we repatriate all of them or some of them? This is not easy as each citizen has the right to own citizenship," he said after a meeting at his office.
As concerns over their possible returns appear, the minister said that should the foreign terrorist fighters return home, they might bring radicalism to the country.
The tourism and investment sectors may also be impacted by a terrorist threat, Mahfud added.
Indonesia has been hit by a series of suicide bombings in recent years, plunging the country's stock market.
Therefore, the minister stressed that it is badly needed a broad discussion on all aspects related to the repatriation of the alleged militants from abroad.
The coordinating minister for politics, law and security affairs cited that the discussion was expected to involve all the relevant ministries.
Previously, Minister Mahfud said 187 out of the 660 foreign terrorist fighters from Indonesia are currently recorded in Syria.
At home, a de-radicalization program has to be well prepared, said Mahfud.
The Indonesian security authorities have been anticipating possible returns of militants from Syria to Indonesia since years ago. Enditem
