By: Gavin Asadit)*
Indonesia, as the country with the fourth largest population in the world, is not free from the threat of radicalism and terrorism. Recently, the suspected terrorist arrest in Batu, Malang, East Java Province, has reminded us all of the importance of being alert to this threat. They move to infiltrate and confuse with the general public. He interacted normally with the people and the population, but behind that he could occasionally commit acts of terror. Therefore, radicalism and terrorism must be understood, and the public must remain vigilant and support the government through the security apparatus in combating and punishing all forms of terrorism.
Radicalism and terrorism are two interrelated phenomena. Radicalism itself is an extreme belief or view, which can influence a person to commit acts of violence in order to certain goals. Meanwhile, terrorism is the use of violence or threat of violence to create fear in the community and influence government policies.
The suspected terrorist arrest in Batu, Malang, East Java Province, is a real example of the threat that exists in Indonesia. These arrests show that radicalism and terrorism can emerge anywhere, even in places that may be considered safe by society. Therefore, it is important for all of us to remain vigilant and not to ignore this threat.
Recently, Polri’s 88th Antireror Detachment (Densus) has secured suspected terrorists in Stone Town, terrorist arrest in Malang Raya in particular Stone Town is not the first time. This proves that Malang Raya is often a shelter for terrorist groups. Academician of the Faculty of Law of the Islamic University of Malang (Unisma), M. Fahrudin assessed that the presence of suspected terrorists in Stone City is not apart from the demographic conditions in Malang and historically that Malang City is the site of the declaration of organizations directed at terrorism. From this, there is a need for increased supervision and rejection by the related stakeholders to carry out the abuse in Malang Raya.
While Karo Penmas of the Polri Humas Division, Briggen Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said that the suspected terrorists were sympathizers of the Daulah Islamic group whose plans were to commit suicide bombings at two places of worship in Malang City. On the other hand, the understanding and acts of radicalism and terrorism have targeted teenagers and children in the homeland, one of whom is a 19-year-old HOK initialist student as a suspected terrorist. The Head of Planning and Administration (Kabag Renmin), Densus 88 Antiteror, Kombes Aswin Siregar stated that the HOK who still holds the status of a student has spoken to the Islamic Daulah Amir of ISIS online through the social media app.
Given the incidents, the public must remain alert to radicalism and terrorism. One way to do that is by raising awareness of signs of radicalism and terrorism. These signs may be changes in suspicious attitudes and behavior, such as self-isolation, showing hatred for a particular group, or expressing a desire to commit acts of violence. If we see these signs on someone around us, it’s important to report them to the local security forces.
In addition, the public must also support the government in the fight against terrorism. The government has made various efforts to combat radicalism and terrorism, such as the establishment of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (NTC) and enhanced cooperation with other countries in terms of intelligence and security. However, this effort will not work without the support of the community. The public can support the government by providing useful information to the security apparatus, as well as by not giving room for radicalism and terrorism to flourish.
The collaboration of the security apparatus and the whole element of society is crucial in the fight against radicalism and terrorism. The public can help and the security apparatus can act decisively against acts of terrorism and take the necessary precautionary measures to protect the public. However, they must also do so whileining respect for human rights and safeguarding the security and well-being of the people.
In the face of the threat of radicalism and terrorism, it is important for all of us to remain calm and not panic. Panic will only worsen the situation and benefit the perpetrators of terrorism. Instead, we must remain vigilant and report any incident or suspicious behaviour to the security apparatus.
In the face of the threat of radicalism and terrorism, neither side can do it on its own. We all need to work together, both as individuals and as societies, to fight this threat. By remaining vigilant and supporting the government through the security apparatus, we can contribute to creating a safe and peaceful environment for all of us.
As a diverse and tolerant country, Indonesia must continue to fight radicalism and terrorism. We must ensure that the values of justice, unity, and peace remain the foundation of our daily lives. By uniting and keeping together, we can overcome the threat of radicalism and terrorism, and build a better future for future generations and people in life will feel safe and calm without any fear of any form of acts of radicalization and terror.
)* The author is the Observer of Social and Social Issues