IS seen likely to recruit Indonesian workers in Taiwan
2016/03/23 22:34:43
CNA file photo
Jakarta, March 23 (CNA) There is a risk of Indonesian migrant workers in democratic Asian countries such as Taiwan and Japan being recruited by the Islamic State (IS), according to a senior Indonesian official.
Nusron Wahid, head of Indonesia's Bureau for the Placement and Protection of Foreign Workers, was cited by Detik.com and other media as saying on March 20 that he knew of two Indonesian workers in South Korea who had joined IS and that some Indonesian workers in Taiwan and Hong Kong were wearing IS badges or other symbols of the terrorist organization.
In democratic countries like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, where there is intellectual freedom, Indonesia's migrant workers could easily be recruited by IS, Wahid said.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, where Indonesian workers are banned from leaving their employers' premises, these free Asian countries could become a hotbed of IS recruitment, Wahid said.
IS has been trying to radicalize Indonesian migrant workers, he said, urging Middle Eastern and Asian host countries to pay attention to that development.
In late February, four Indonesians who were reportedly on their way to Syria to join IS were arrested in Singapore and deported.
According to Indonesian intelligence authorities, a total of 1,085 Indonesians have either joined or are supporting IS. Of that number, 543 are formal IS members, 246 are loyal supporters, and 296 are sympathizers, the authorities said.
(By Jay Chou and S.C. Chang)
