By Muhammad Kiswanto)*
Bali talk.id| The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) revealed that the terrorist network group is currently changing its strategy in spreading radical ideology in Indonesia, as seen from a series of arrests of suspected terrorists in several institutions, Islamic parties, and other Islamic organizations recently. This is reinforced by the statement by the Director of Dericalization of the BNPT, that the new pattern applied by terrorists is to use the democratic system to enter and formally control the institution.
Most recently, the report from the Center for Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis (PPATK) mentions suspicious transactions from ACT (Action Fast Respond) which are suspected of supporting the activities of terrorism networks at home and abroad. In addition, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police Headquarters has summoned the former president of ACT to provide clarification on the management of funds at the institution. Previously, PPATK had blocked financial transactions in 60 accounts under the name of the ACT Foundation regarding the alleged use of funds for personal interests and suspected illicit activities. The account blocking was carried out after PPATK received reports from 33 financial service providers.
Aksi Cepat Tanggap or abbreviated as ACT is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in Indonesia. From 2018 to 2020, this institution is said to have collected hundreds of billions of public funds. The hundreds of billions of funds are used for various programs. Starting from helping victims of natural disasters to building schools or places of worship. However, the management of the hundreds of billions of funds is also suspected to be problematic.
PPATK revealed several alleged odd cases that befell ACT in relation to the management of funds, including allegations of funds received being traded, alleged flows of funds to Al-Qaeda, alleged flows of funds potentially related to terrorism, allegations of donations for personal interests, allegations of deducting 10-20% CSR funds. , allegations of withholding 13.7% of donations for salaries, and allegations of misappropriation of CSR funds for the Lion Air JT-610 accident.
Some of the alleged cases experienced by ACT are related to the flow of funds to Al-Qaeda and the flow of funds to other terrorist networks. ACT is also suspected of conducting financial transactions to a number of countries with a total fund of Rp. 1.7 billion which is suspected to be a potentially prohibited transaction.
In financing terrorism networks, the guise of charities in the midst of Indonesian society is a significant source of funds in strengthening radical networks, this is very effectively implemented in Indonesia, especially the nature of the Indonesian people who are known to be generous, this condition is also strengthened by a survey from the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) The World Giving Index 2021 which crowns Indonesia as the most generous country in the world, this potential is precisely the gap used by radical and terror groups to raise funds by means of donations and charity.
In preventing similar modes of action, several things need to be done, including tightening regulations on public funding by charitable institutions and bringing up the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs and related ministries to close the gap in fundraising modes through donations and philanthropy. In addition, it is also necessary to disseminate information about charitable institutions or donations related to terror groups to stakeholders who monitor these charities and educate the public to be more observant and selective in choosing charities and donating.
Furthermore, the Government must strengthen regulations related to public funding by charitable institutions because so far the collection of people’s funds has only been carried out by Law Number 9 of 1961 concerning the collection of money or goods and Government regulation Number 29 of 1980 concerning the implementation of donation collection. only regulates the matter of the licensing bureaucracy system, meanwhile the rules regarding accountability and sanctions in case of fraud or misappropriation and misuse of funds have not been regulated.
Terrorism and radicalism are the biggest enemies of the Indonesian nation because they aim to divide the nation and establish a Khilafah state or anti-Pancasila, innovations and the ways of these radical groups must be anticipated with a deeper understanding of the Indonesian people towards forbidden radical groups, that society must know and understand Pancasila literally and as an irreplaceable state philosophy, and form a mindset. If there are groups that want to replace the basics of the Pancasila State with other ideologies, they must be interpreted as forbidden/radical ideas, which will destroy the integrity and unity of the nation which must be resisted.
