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Indonesia to start initiative using social media to combat radicalism

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (KUNA) -- An Indonesian foreign ministry official said that President Joko Widodo will start an initiative on how to use social media to contain radicalism and terrorism during the upcoming two-day ASEAN conference, scheduled to be hosted by the US state of California.
The initiative by the president will showcase Indonesia's experience with terrorism at the conference and will highlight ways to combat terrorism and radicalism, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry Director of Regional Partnership and Cooperation Dari Aman said Saturday.
Aman added that his country has vast experience and capabilities in combating terrorism, including security forces that dealt with the terrorist attack which occurred last month in capital Jakarta.
Police General Anton Charliyan, a spokesperson for Indonesia's national police, said the perpetrators were "imitating" the Paris attacks but it was unclear whether the so-called IS was directly involved.
Last month, police said five of the attackers and two other people were killed near the Sarinah shopping mall, which is surrounded by international shops and restaurants, a cinema, UN and government offices.
The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, called on people not to give in to fear.
"This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people," he said.
It came after several security crackdowns following terror threats in recent weeks and was the first major violence in Indonesia's capital since explosions targeting two hotels killed seven people and injured more than 50 in 2009. (end) aab.mb