REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUNNYLANDS -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has emphasized the need for government stability to fight terrorism in addition to reducing the number of Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTF).

During a session of Retreat II of the US-ASEAN Summit here on Tuesday morning, Jokowi stressed that government stability was needed to fight terrorism and to reduce the number of FTF.

"To combat terrorism and reduce the number of FTF, we need political stability, democratic governance, and the absence of foreign occupation," the president affirmed.

Jokowi pointed out that almost all countries faced the same problem, wherein their citizens had become FTF.

He added that some 329 Indonesian citizens were in Syria.

"It is a relatively small number as compared to the total population of Indonesia, which reaches 252 million," he remarked.

Based on media analysis, the main factor behind the relatively small number of Indonesians who became FTF was due to the fact that the country did not have a repressive government, was not in occupation, and had relatively stable political conditions.

The president also conveyed his ideas to utilize social media in the face of extremism and terrorism.

It is based on the fact that social media was mostly being used as a platform to spread extremism and to send invitations to become FTF.

"Therefore, we must work together by utilizing the social media to spread peace and tolerance as a counter narrative," the president noted.

This message will be conveyed by President Jokowi during his visit to the Silicon Valley to attend the "Indonesia Digital Initiative: Empowering Leaders of Peace" session.

"I urge that your Majesty would be pleased to join me to reproduce the narrative through social media on moderation, tolerance, and peace," Jokowi noted.

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