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Terrorists seek fertile ground in Jakarta: Journalist

Thursday, 14 January 2016 3:13 PM [ Last Update: Thursday, 14 January 2016 3:14 PM ]

An Indonesian Muslim woman holds a placard during a candlelit protest in Surabaya, Eastern Java island on January 14, 2016, to condemn the blasts and gunfire that rocked Jakarta earlier in the day. ©AFP

Press TV has interviewed Rita Ariani Widiadana, a Jakarta-based journalist, to discuss the recent bomb blasts in Indonesia, which left several people dead and injured.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: First of all, I would like to get your initial thoughts and reaction to this attack that has taken place?

Widiadana: We are all shocked, very shocked. Although, Indonesia has been attacked several times, of course we are very, very, very shocked about these most recent attacks by the terrorist groups…

Press TV: This is not the first time Indonesia has been targeted by a terrorist group. Why is Indonesia attracting these kinds of attacks?

Widiadana: Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, where people are all, the majority, moderate [Muslims] and we always condemn radicalism, terrorism, and acts of terrorists. You know the fertile ground for all terrorists [is] to have like a showcase to the world. I think we have been warned also that the ISIS [terrorist] group has designated Indonesia as a playground maybe, as a concert area to attract Indonesians’ attention. So we have been targeted for several years since the Bali bombing in 2002.

Press TV: What kind of measures can we see being put in place by the government and security forces now in the aftermath of this attack?

Widiadana: Jakarta is of course on alert and also all cities in Indonesia especially big cities, especially Bali’s international tourist destination where all offices are on high alert and all Indonesia airports, all transportation and facilities, will be kept at top security.

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