REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By:  Ikhwanul Kiram Mashuri

Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN), Sutiyoso plans to open an office in Turkey. Why Turkey? What kind of intelligence information can be obtained from the country during Erdogan's two-day visit in Indonesia?

BIN realized Turkey's role as major route of hardliners and terrorists who wanted to cross into Syria, including a number of Indonesian citizens who wanted to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  Some of them have been arrested by Turkish authorities and returned to Indonesia. There are now around 500 Indonesian citizens who have joined ISIS.

Sutiyoso named the Turkish border region to go to Syria as a 'classic street' for people who wish to join the radical group in Syria and Iraq. He wants to stop that through the country. "I will make it soon because I believe that the classic street has existed in Turkey," Sutiyoso said.

The street at Turkish-Syrian border totaled 950 km. The radical group called it Bawabat al-'Arab or the Gate of Jihad.

According to media records (al Sharq al Awsat), more than 12,000 young European have travelled to Syria to join ISIS. Other sources calculate more than 8,000 people from 20 European Union(EU) countries have fought together with ISIS. The question is, how they arrived at the territory which had been controlled by ISIS?

Prime Minister of France, Manuel Carlos Valls Galfetti ever said that the young European arrived in Syria through Turkey. British PM, David Cameron also conveyed the same statement. They have discussed with Turkish authorities to prevent its citizens to go to Syria.

Then, how Turkey could become a gateway of foreigners who want to join ISIS?

Turkey is one of popular tourist destinations in the world. More than 40 million foreign tourists visit Turkey every year. To attract more tourists, Turkey imposed visa-free status to foreign tourists from several countries, including Indonesia. This service is misused by foreign tourists to join ISIS through Turkish-Syrian border.

According to Middle East observer who is also former chief editor of al Sharq al Awsat, Abdul Rahman al Rashid, foreigners flood into Syria was started since the anti-government protests demanding President Bashar Assad to step down, when the Arab Spring uprising in 2011. The regime responded them with violence.

Turkey's support to the opposition or protesters seemed normal at first, like they support many oppositions in Arab countries. Until the middle of second year, Syrian people's resistance seemed normal. However, in the end of second year, people carried their weapons when the regime continued to face the opposition with violence that led to many deaths. At that time, Ankara continued to support the opposition who were members of the coalition under the banner of the Free Syrian Army.

In the third year, Bashar Assad's regime began to weaken. Several areas have been successfully controlled by the opposition. The war flares up. Damascus has been under siege. Two important moments happen. First, the world focuses on Syria, especially Islamic world, like Bosnia in the 1990s. Millions of refugees and hundreds of thousands people died and shocked the world. Unfortunately, the United Nation (UN), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Arab League, European Union (EU) and other international institutions failed to provide a solution. Second, the emergence of several countries, including Russia, China, Lebanon and Iran, which supported Bashar Assad's regime.

Since then, foreigners come to Syria through Turkish border, each support the opposition and Bashar Assad's regime, including the radical group which later merged with Jabhatu an Nashrah and ISIS. An Nashrah is another form of al Qaeda in Syria.

Ankara allowed the foreigners entering Syria through its border. In fact, Turkey seems to take advantage of their existence - the foreign troops - for its own benefit. First, the presence of foreigners to join an-Nashrah and ISIS is expected to weaken Bashar Assad's regime that is also supported by foreign troops.

Second, ISIS existence is also expected to weaken the Kurds in Syrian-Turkish border as it happened in the city of Kobani. For years Turkey has problems with Kurdish fighters who continued to demand independence and secessions. Another Turkish observer, Amir Thahiri called the Turkish action as 'La'batu Erdogan al Khatarah' or Erdogan's dangerous game.

Turkish position which seems to open its border to foreigners to enter Syria has drawn criticism from international community, especially Western countries whose citizens leaving to join ISIS. It also becomes a blunder for Turkey itself.

ISIS looks like other radical group and terrorists didn't care about nationalism problems, unitary state, interstate relationship and other moral issues. They only concern to take over the world in any way, including invite and kill anyone they consider as opponents.

It was proven; ISIS also attacked Turkey with suicide bomb in southern town of Suruc, which killed 32 people. This is retaliation to Turkey which has stopped foreigners who wanted to join ISIS in Syria and closed down pro-ISIS websites in Turkish-language. Abdul Rahman al Rasyid called the suicide bomb as ‘Inqilab  Da’isy ‘ala al Atrak' or ISIS coupe against Turkey.

Turkey has launched air strikes against ISIS in Syria. Many people welcome the change of Turkey's attitude that could weaken ISIS existence, change the power map in Iraq and Syria, and even in the Middle East.

With Turkey's strategic position, we also support Sutiyoso's plan to open an office in Turkey. The existence of BIN is expected to detect Indonesian citizens who want to join radical groups in Middle East quickly. Allah knows what's best.

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