JAKARTA. The Indonesian Navy confirmed on Monday that Indonesians intending to join the Islamic State (IS) organization were not using sea routes to do so.

The Navy’s Western Region Fleet Command (Armabar) sea security division head, Commodore Abdul Rasyid Kacong, confirmed that Indonesians wishing to join IS were not traveling to the Middle East via sea.

“[That region] is very far from here. It’s not safe to use sea routes to reach Middle Eastern countries,” Rasyid said on Sunday. He was speaking on the sidelines of the evacuation process of 20 passengers and crew members of the KM Nurah, which sank in Bintan waters.

“If there is information on Indonesian citizens suspected of traveling abroad to join IS, please report it to us,” he said, adding that Armabar was currently focused on monitoring cross-border drug trafficking via sea routes.

The Navy has deployed four warships to waters around the Malacca Strait and its surrounding areas to prevent security threats and other illegal activities.

Earlier, the Riau Islands Police arrested a local resident who allegedly sent threatening letters emblazoned with IS symbols.

The suspect, identified only as Rozi, 70, allegedly sent the letters to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and House of Representatives leaders via Batam Post Office in September last year.

The police said they did not detain Rozi because they did not have enough evidence to do so and because the alleged terror perpetrator was old.

According to the police, Rozi could be easily traced by his address and cell phone number, which he had written on letters’ envelopes. (ebf)

Editor: Uji Agung Santosa