By: Ahmad Pahlevi )*
The Thamrin bombing that occurred on January 14, 2016 showed that terror attacks did not only occur at the end of the year, but also at the beginning of the year. The government and the community are expected to be able to synergize and be aware of the potential terror attacks.
Increased awareness of the momentum towards the end and beginning of the year is still a major topic. Because the second time is considered quite prone to occur things that are not desirable, including acts of terrorism. Given, the many cases of terrorism that occurred before the second time.
The culprit itself is quite surprising, which involves children and women in the execution. It turns out that the exposure to radicalism is indeed so strong in gaining the hearts of jihadists who are hungry for the lure of Islamic heroism. Especially for young people whose emotions are often at an unstable level. Easily influenced by things related to struggle, heroism and the desire to be recognized for its existence in an environment.
This is further exacerbated by terrorism to recruit such people to be “sacrifices” for the purposes they have. Actors of terrorism generally move in groups, but now the movement of terrorism has become more sophisticated as the development of an increasingly fast-moving digital world. So that it can make anyone easily connected with distorted, extreme and the like communities.
The latest is the term Lone Wolf. Still remember not a suicide bombing in Mapolrestabes Medan. The culprit is suspected of carrying out the action alone. Although claimed to be independent, this Lone Wolf is also considered to have links with terrorist networks through the digital world.
This finding was also reinforced by the security forces who released a number of interesting facts related to the use of social media as a means of spreading radical ideas, which could later lead to acts of terrorism. Call it one of the social media called Telegram. Through this system, the perpetrators of terrorism cram the followers with false propaganda and deviate from the true teachings.
Complete with a variety of videos that can ignite the passion of the followers of this hardliner group. Including the circulation of tutorials for making weapons to homemade bombs. Which is the tools from simple ingredients. How many items are often found after a bomb explosion is, 9 volt batteries, metal iron plates, then there are quite a number of nails with various sizes. Then there are the cable slices and the on / off switch.
These items are very easy to find around us, so the slightest vigilance against potential acts of terrorism must be wary of. For the community environment, it can actively socialize with other citizens, so that we can judge which people who are vulnerable will become the perpetrators of terrorism. If that’s the case, we can immediately report to the security forces if something suspicious happens. Isn’t getting an umbrella available before it rains better?
In line with the various facts above, intelligence observer Ridlwan Habib also reminded caution about terror. He suggested that all parties not only be aware of the terror that might occur at the end of the year, but also at the beginning of the year. He is said to have extended the vigilance because he looked in the Thamrin bombing incident in January 2016.
At that time, a high level of vigilance was carried out at the end of 2015, namely in the moments leading up to the Christmas celebration until the New Year 2016. However, what happened instead was an attack carried out at the Sarinah Thamrin bomb on January 11, 2016, meaning that it occurred after the vigilance had decreased.
He advised that his vigilance should be focused on only a few days on the 25th, 31st December and 1 January. He based this because the patterns used by terrorists continued to change and evolve over time.
Although it is predicted to decrease, by the end of 2019 until January 2020, according to Ridlwan, there is quite a potential for terror attacks. Because they show consistency and existence. That they remain in Indonesia to show this to their leader (ISIS) Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi, who became the amir of the Khilafah in Syria. The method adopted is similar to the stabbing of the former Mnekopolhukam Wiranto some time ago. So that we must continue to tighten our vigilance ahead of the beginning of the year as well, in anticipation of unwanted things.
Increased awareness before the beginning of the year is often ignored. Especially if it has been swept away in the atmosphere of the turn of the year. However, this is precisely what is used by irresponsible elements. So that for terrorist attacks, you must keep an eye on!
)* The author is a social political observer