Stay Alert and Be Ready for the Dangers of Radicalism in Social Media During Pandemic
The Indonesian government has set the Covid-19 pandemic to be a national disaster so that it requires a Task Force to Accelerate Handling. However, the government’s comprehensive policy still seems to draw criticism and even resistance from various elements of society, which tends to demand to be firm in addressing another serious threat, namely radicalism.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic caused the focus of security forces to shift to being used by other interested groups such as anti-government groups to worsen the situation and conditions. On the other hand, it is used as an opportunity for radicalism to build and strengthen negative sentiment or public distrust of the government.
Of course, by spreading hoax news related to state failure in handling Covid-19. Hoax is made as if real with evidence that also looks real. Shrewdness and imaging distort the facts so pretty that people are captivated by the hoax news. Though everything is just an illusion.
Not only the Covid-19 problem, all the problems that can be made that it is the fault of the government or the Indonesian government system, must be made a scapegoat by irresponsible groups, especially radical groups and terrorists.
They want the establishment of an Islamic government system in Indonesia. Though Indonesia is a pluralistic country with high local wisdom. The strong unity of Indonesia made radical groups develop propaganda patterns and systems as well as member recruitment. The development is also targeting social media so it needs a strong fence to protect themselves from hoaxes.
The government has tried very hard to stem the spread of hoax in cyberspace, various policies to eliminate or downgrading hoax spreader accounts. But it is not enough. The government and the community must unite and work together to immediately address the threat of spread and its effects.
Senior Researcher at the Ministry of Religion’s R&D Agency, Abdul Jamil Wahab, said the motives for the terrorism movement were religious motives and revenge. They will continue to fight until the Khilafah Islamiyyah system is successfully obtained.
This Covid-19 situation, the thing is, the elements of radical understanding consider it like a war event, therefore citizens with the community and government must unite and work together to publish positive narratives and
optimism to raise the issue of unity and tolerance.
Community optimism will continue to grow if there is a good relationship between the community and the government. Public literacy also needs to be increased to actively participate in supporting the government in countering the hoax of radicalism and intolerance that can disrupt the existence of sovereignty in the midst of the Covid Pandemic19.
Let’s fight against the Radicalism Virus that Provokes and Impedes the Efforts in Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic by avoiding Radicalism Provocation and Propaganda by Enhancing the Sense of Patriotism and Nationalism for a Peaceful and Advanced Indonesia.
Reka Agustina, the writer is Chair of the Jakarta Regional Publication Literacy Movement
