Indonesia Not a Radical Nation: MPR Chairman

Kendari (Antara Bali) - The Chairman of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR), Zulkifli Hasan stated that Indonesia is not a radical nation, but is a tolerant country.

"Indonesia is a tolerant nation and its motto is unity in diversity," Zulkifli said on Thursday.

He also said the government is continuing to crack down on terrorists across the country.

"Indonesia stands firmly to eradicate terrorists in accordance with the existing regulations," he said.

Zulkifli remarked that Indonesians have equal rights and duties. As a result, they do not have obstacles in the way of achieving their goals.

"We are a tolerant nation. Anyone in this country has the right to be anything," he said.

With regards to religious affairs, Hasan said Indonesia has a special ministry in charge of religious affairs.

"A number of religious holidays are designated by the government," he stated.

Earlier, a terrorist suspect was killed in a shootout with the police anti-terror squad, Densus 88, in the city of Bima, West Nusa Tenggara on Monday.

Bima Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ahmad Nurman Ismail said the shootout took place in the Kelurahan Penatoi early on Monday when the police special forces raided that area.

Ahmad gave no details of the incident beyond confirming that the police's anti-terror squad had been sent there from the Jakarta police's headquarters.

"There was a raid, but it is not our authority to give details of the incident. The authority lies in the hands of the police headquarters," he said.

Witnesses among the local people said the police's anti-terror squad raided a house belonging to a man identified as FJ.

There had been an exchange of fire and FJ was killed as he was hit on the chest, a local witness said.

A member of Densus 88 was also injured with a bullet wound on his left arm and has been treated at a local hospital.

Police have arrested and killed a number of terror suspects after last months terror attack in Jakarta, where four attackers were killed. (WDY)