Eight Terrorist Convicts in Medan Pledge Loyalty to Indonesia

Eight terrorist convicts in Medan have pledged loyalty to Indonesia, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights reported.

Head of the Ministry’s regional office in North Sumatra Imam Suyudi said on Wednesday, March 9, that seven terrorist convicts in Class I Penitentiary and one convict in Class IIA Women Penitentiary in Medan pledged their loyalty, thus returning to be part of the country.

“After the pledge, then terrorist convicts returned to the Republic of Indonesia with its national Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [unity in diversity] motto. They will also improve their awareness to defend the country,” Sayudi said, as reported by Antara.

He expressed his appreciation to chief wardens at the two correctional facilities for their development program that results in these convicts to, in the end, pledge their loyalty to Indonesia.

Thurman Hutapea from the Ministry’s directorate general of corrections said that upon pledging their loyalty to the state, these convicts are prepared to accept and protect Pancasila as an ideology.

“To understand that Pancasila doesn’t only act as Indonesia’s foundation, but also as national ideology and perspective as well as unifier in this country,” Hutapea said.