By: Indah Kusumasari) *
The corona virus pandemic or Covid-19 has now become a national disaster in Indonesia. In the situation of the government’s handling efforts to overcome the pandemic, issues that lead to radicalism that threaten the life of the nation and state are still seen to emerge. The threat is targeting all elements.
Deputy Secretary of Youth of Bravo-5 Fighters, Reaky Tuanany, in a discussion held by the Dialectical Studies Institute with the theme “Beware of Understanding Radicalism and Behavior in the Millennial Era”, that the situation of handling the epidemic of Covid-19 could potentially be ridden by anti-government groups including radical groups.
In the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak, the community and the government should unite and work together to immediately address the threat of spread and its effects. However, according to Rezky, in the public spaces, the emergence of various hoaks and political attacks aimed more to degrade the legitimate government, even found issues that lead to radicalism that threaten the life of the nation and state.
In his view, Rezky explained that the Covid-19 situation was actually used as an opportunity for radicalism to build and strengthen negative sentiments or public distrust of the government, spreading hoax news related to state failure in handling Covid-19. The maneuver is considered very dangerous. It is certainly very unfortunate if there are certain groups who use the Covid-19 outbreak by building a political movement that threatens the life of the state, nation and religion. Even more unfortunate, in the midst of a national disaster plague Covid-19.
According to Waode Zainab ZT, candidate Phd Al Musthofa International University, Iran, that in Islam, the radicalism movement has indeed existed since the days of friends. Where, at that time the jargon of La Hukma Illalloh (no law other than Allah) appeared. This slogan was then used to overthrow the legitimate government and carry out radical movements. In Indonesia, radicalism is no longer a matter of ideology as in the days of Islam in the era of friends, or radicalism in the West which is an extreme political movement.
Meanwhile, Arif Rosyid, Secretary General of the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI), considered radicalism to flourish outside the mosque, even if there was at least more than 1%. He appealed to Muslims not to get caught up in differences that could divide the nation. Zuhad Aji Firmantor explained, it was important for the government elite, TNI-Polri, regional government, party elite to formulate and respond to the severe challenges related to the threat of radicalism.
The Director of the Dialectical Studies Institute, Muhammad Khutub, said that the Covid-19 pandemic, which currently affects all countries, including Indonesia, made religious life experience extreme challenges and changes. Besides that, social and religious life is now shifting no longer face to face, but virtually. Virtual media including social media can be used as a propaganda tool by certain groups in the midst of people’s fear of this epidemic, including radical groups with certain agendas that disturb government.
Therefore, the government and its staff, supported by all elements of society, need to continue to be aware and anticipate the potential threat of radicalism actively in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic disaster which we hope will soon be over and resolved.
) * The author is a student contributor to the Khairun University of Ternate
