In an effort to protect its citizens, the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking the repatriation of 17 Indonesians who fled from ISIS in Raqqa, Syria. The 17 Indonesians consisted of 12 women and 5 men.
In the case of the 17 people resettlement plan, basically Ministry of Foreign Affairs already knows the existence of 17 people and is coordinating with the local authorities for the 17 Indonesian citizens to return to Indonesia immediately.
According to local authorities, the 17 Indonesians are currently under one of the anti-ISIS Syrian Seat factions controlling Northern Syria.
Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said the Indonesian Government is still open communication with various parties controlling Syrian territory, including with the Syrian Kurdish Authority related to the 17 WNI.
“We are informed that they are not fighters, they are in Raqqa only the first 40 days and the remainder are in jail and in isolation house until they run away with the help of a third party on June 10,” said Iqbal.
The obstacle in the return of the 17 Indonesians is the number of different groups controlling the Syrian-Iraqi border region, where the place is where 17 Indonesians live.
In fact, it is not only this time that the government is trying to repatriate its citizens from the conflict areas of Syria. Previously, the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with BNPT had returned 12 Indonesians. The repatriation can not be separated from communication with various authorities and certain parties in power in the area.
)* The author is CIDISS Contributor