REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By: Otjih Sewandarijatun *)
The influence of the Islamic State (IS) in Indonesia has become more apparent along with the rapid increase of radicalization within society since IS declared a caliphate in June 2014, the year that marked the rise of one of the most deadliest terror groups ever to exist. By December 2015, about 800 Indonesians had been reported to have departed for Syria and Iraq, with 169 people being caught on the Turkey-Syria border and deported by the Turkish government, before these potential foreign fighters had the chance to join IS, according to the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Therefore as we know together, recently extremism and terrorism are still become the whole world problem. Extremism had led to the existence of radical groups and the refugee crisis. Triggering to join for minimalizing and eradicating those threats, some of an interfaith and peace organization has urged governments around the world to provide strategic humanitarian assistance and another strategy to counter extremism and serve as a sustainable development agenda. The organization pushed for cooperation among origin and destination countries to help create short-and long-term solutions amid the influx of refugees.
A number of minority groups have joined Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country’s largest Muslim organization, to launch a nationwide, grassroots movement aimed at combating extremism. The organizations, which include the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI), the High Council of Confucianism in Indonesia (Matakin) and the Indonesian Buddhist Association (Walubi), joined the movement in its effort to maintain the country’s foundation of pluralism, which is under threat from extremism. The organizations plan to hold a mass rally at Lapangan Banteng Square on Jan. 17 in which thousands of their members are expected to participate. The interfaith movement would guard the country from the intrusion of extremism that came from abroad in the form of radical groups like the Islamic State (IS) movement and others that wanted to impose a single interpretation of Islam.
According to William F. Vendley, secretary of Religions for Peace, de-radicalization measures and sustainability development were key to countering extremism. He believed that such efforts would not only help tackle growing radicalization but also contribute to human development. ‘Governments have to engage more in development assistance to break down the wall between sustainable developments and counter extremism," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday (12/1). Vendley suggested that countries cooperate with worldwide inter-religious communities to find the roots of extremism to understand the drivers of violence in the name of religion before proposing solutions. Comprehending the living conditions of radical group members is also vital. "We have to understand what drives people into violent extremism. Whether it is due to poor religious interpretation or the fact that their dignity is being abused," he added.
Meanwhile, the government of Indonesia was ready to strengthen its cooperation with global inter-religious communities to promote interfaith peace to end extremism and we are committed to building diverse and tolerant communities. Governments will be engaged inter-religious groups to counter extremism by promoting interfaith peace through narrative taught by respective religions.
Other Strategies to counter extremism and terrorism
Actually, its has several strategies if we want to counter extremism and terrorism from strategic humanitarian assistance, disengagement, de-radicalization, intelligence cooperation, strengthening law and coping some of number interfaith group and peace organization including mass media.
Its several messages can be delivered during all of strategies done such as we have and also delivered that diversity should be this nation’s strength. We must show that peaceful coexistence is possible. Besides that, we have been promoting a nationwide movement campaigning for tolerance and pluralism.
The involvement of interfaith group, especially, Moslem interfaith group is a must and has a strategic position because until right now the peaceful and tolerant brand of Islam was currently under threat from the rise of fundamentalism, terrorism and a sectarian conflict among Moslem’s countries. Now we see they have the courage to fly the IS flag at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. We also had people rallying at Senayan Stadium and openly expressing their wishes for changing Pancasila as the state ideology. Indonesia as the biggest Moslem country in the world could be threatened with those situation if a counter strategy to counter terrorism, fundamentalism and sectarian conflict hasn’t done.
Experts have urged the government to strengthen ties within communities to increase public participation in combating radicalism. A senior researcher from the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) at State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Dadi Darmadi, said that until now the government had only involved scholars, researchers and law enforcers, but seemed to ignore the public. “Women, specifically mothers, could play an important role in de-radicalization. They are directly involved with social activities, such as educating their children,” Dadi said at a workshop held by the German Embassy.
Emphasizing the role of netizens in fighting radical narratives is also a strategic movement to counter fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism because social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube can be easily used to spread extremism. A video of Indonesian Abu Muhammad al-Indonesi calling on Indonesian Muslims to join the Islamic State (IS) group was disseminated through social media. A photo of firebrand Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir with his followers, mainly from the Aceh military camp, with an IS flag in the background, was also widely circulated on social media. In the same way, netizens should spread ideas to counter radicalism on social media, challenging the radical doctrines.
Meanwhile, Liberal Islamic Network (JIL) founder Ulil Abshar Abdalla suggested that the government provide such a web-based report center that would allow the public to log complaints or reports on the potential of radicalism in their surroundings.
Last but not least, previously President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on ASEAN member countries to increase cooperation in intelligence gathering during his speech at the 27th ASEAN Summit (KTT ASEAN) plenary meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “ASEAN needs to increase intelligence cooperation as well as strengthen legal regulations,” said Jokowi as quoted by Antara news agency. He added that the implementation of the ASEAN Convention on Counterterrorism needed to be regenerated amid the sad news about violent actions taking place in several countries that had shocked the world in the past few days. Let’s working together to counter fundamentalism, extremism, terrorism and sectarian conflict. Godbless us. Hopefully.
*The writer is a researcher at Galesong Institute and LSISI Jakarta.
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