House of Representatives condemns France terror truck

The House of Representatives Commission I Chairman Abdul Kharis Almasyhari condemned the terror truck incident in Nice, France, which claimed 80 lives and injured hundred others during the Bastille Day commemoration on Thursday (July 14).

"I am concerned and condemn the terror act using a truck to plough into a crowd and to kill some 80 people. Terrorism in any form is our common enemy," Kharis affirmed here, Friday.

The legislator called on the world to make joint efforts to fight any acts of terror, especially those orchestrated in the name of religion.

Kharis believed that no religion in the world advocates terror, so he assessed that terror acts ran counter to any form of religious teachings.

"Whoever the perpetrators are and whatever is their religion, I guess no religion teaches terrorism. Such forms of crime are far beyond religion," he emphasized.

Moreover, following the latest incident in Nice, France, the society needs to be heedful of the changes in the way in which terror attacks are being carried out.

Kharis pointed out that unlike earlier instances, no bombs were used in the recent terror attack, but instead, a truck was used to mow down a crowd of citizens.

"These terrorists will definitely be looking for a new way that cannot be easily predicted. It turns out (terror truck) it is also considered effective as 80 people died in the incident. I think we need to watch out for this new approach to conducting terror attacks," Kharis remarked.

The Houses Commission I chairman also reminded the Indonesian government to increase vigilance to anticipate any form of terror, including the impact of the existing physical terror that is of psychic form.

Vigilance in Indonesia should be stepped up by strengthening the intelligence apparatus, so that activities leading to acts of terror can be anticipated, Kharis emphasized.

"Of course, we need to avoid spreading any form of panic while handling the current terror incident, for instance, not creating fear among the residents, which can trigger psychological terror," Kharis added.
Source: ANTARA