Fighting against Terrorism

ABK

Azyumardi Azra

Terrorism seems to be more than simply surviving in Indonesia. Data and indicators show that terrorist organizations, groups and cells are still very active in mobilizing strength and carrying out acts of terrorism.

This phenomenon can be seen recently from several acts of terrorism, which occurred within the span of just a few days. First, the bomb terror at the gate of the Makassar Cathedral, South Sulawesi, Sunday (28/3/2021). In the act of terror, the bomb carrier, L, who was riding a motorcycle, died along with his wife, YSF. They were newlyweds who got married about six months ago, and belonged to the millennial generation, who were born in the mid-1990s.

The second act of terror was the infiltration of a suspected terrorist at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, Wednesday (31/3/2021). The young female infiltrator, ZA, 26, pointed an air gun at several members of the National Police at the guard post. Finally, ZA, who also belonged to the millennial generation, was shot dead by the police.

Was it just a coincidence or was the timing deliberately arranged by the suspected terrorists? Both acts of terror occurred when the religious communities were heading for spiritual ascension: the Easter Triduum for Christians and Nisfu Sya’ban -- two weeks to the fast of Ramadan – for Muslims.

Also read: Weak Ideological Resilience Acts as Trigger

The existing proliferation of terrorism groups and cells may be a bit surprising. The reason is simple: many developments are no longer conducive to being a source of extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

The first factor is the decline of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in the Middle East. Since 2017, for example, ISIS, as a locus of allegiance for many terrorists around the world, has lost about 75 percent of the territory it once controlled. ISIS and other terrorist organizations also lost many leaders.

Also read: When Terrorism Targeted Women

As a result, effective relations no longer work between ISIS, for example, and terrorist organizations, groups and cells in many countries, including Indonesia. However, the existence of the ISIS headquarters and direct communication among them are no longer necessary because they have been replaced by baiat (the act of swearing allegiance) via social media.

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU

Jalan Kartini, Makassar, South Sulawesi, in front of the Cathedral Church after the explosion that was suspected of being a suicide bombing, Sunday (28/3/2021).

With the change in communication networks, there was a process of "indigenization" and "independence" of terrorist organizations, groups and cells in Indonesia. As a result, it has been increasingly difficult for the government and security forces to control it.

The continual spread of terrorist cells that carry out acts of terror shows that the Indonesian government and security forces have not succeeded in eradicating terrorism. In fact, the National Police\'s Densus 88 counterterrorism squad (formed in 2004) is often praised by the counterterrorism institutions of other countries and foreign observers as "the most successful" in countering terrorism in Indonesia.

Even though Densus 88 seems to have never relaxed the tracking and arrest of suspected terrorists, their numbers seem to continue to grow. The public impression is that "the more suspected terrorist networks are exposed and arrested, the more that are still moving underground".

Also read: Operating in ‘Two Legs’

During the 90 days from the beginning of January to the end of March 2021, 94 suspected terrorists were arrested by Densus 88 in a number of places. Since 2018, 1,173 suspected terrorists have been arrested. It is not known exactly how many suspected terrorists, police officers and civilians were killed in the arrests.

Besides Densus 88, there is also the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), which carries out many activities to deal with terrorism: preventive within the community group surroundings, curative for terrorism convicts (napiter), and ex-terrorism convicts. The BNPT collaborates with more than 30 ministries/government agencies in implementing deradicalization and antiradicalism programs.

Also read: The Issue of Radicalism

With the prevalence of acts of terror, it is necessary to evaluate in order to intensify the effectiveness of Densus 88 and the BNPT in eradicating terrorism. Possibly the approaches and methods applied have been "out of date" due to the changing character of the terrorist cells. Therefore, reformulation and rejuvenation are needed.

In addition, there needs to be a reassessment of the effectiveness and efficacy of the three regulations in combating terrorism. First, Law No. 5/2018 on the eradication of criminal acts of terrorism. This law is more detailed, more specific, firmer and more stringent than the revised Law No. 15/2003.

Kompas

The letter allegedly left by terrorists at National Police Headquarters, Jakarta, ZA (25), was analyzed by graphologist Deborah Dewi.

The second regulation is Law No. 2/2017 on mass organizations as an adoption of Perppu (regulation in lieu of law) No. 2/2017, which "cancels" Law No. 17/2013. Law No. 2/2017 has the potential to prevent extreme anti-Pancasila and anti-NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia) organizations from falling into terrorism. The third regulation is Presidential Regulation No. 7/2021 on the national action plan for the prevention and countermeasures of violence-based extremism. It is expected that the presidential regulation can curb extreme ideology and praxis leading to radicalism and terrorism into the framework of praxis for preventing terrorism.

These three regulations are actually quite comprehensive for the prevention and eradication of terrorism. However, the three regulations seem to have changed into "toothless tigers", which do not discourage people from being influenced or tempted to adopt extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

Also read: Terror Networks Target Young Families

Therefore, eradicating terrorism requires more than just regulations. What is needed is not only legal provisions, but also a political, sociocultural, economic, social-psychological and religious environment that is more conducive to preventing citizens from falling into extremism, radicalism and terrorism.

For example, poverty is not always positively correlated with the spread of terrorism. However, a lame and unfair economic system and praxis has increased the anger among a number of citizens, which can plunge them into extremism, radicalism and terrorism. Serious efforts, not gimmicks, are badly needed to build economic and social justice.

Likewise, the excesses of the political system and practice such as democracy. Prolonged political commotion, corruption that never subsides, dynastic oligarchs that continue to increase, provoke groups of citizens into becoming aspirants of terrorism. Therefore, it is necessary to be serious about fixing the Indonesian democracy.

Also read: Terrorism, Anarchism, and Deradicalization

Political elites in the executive, legislative, legislative, political parties, security forces (National Police and TNI), and elites in the mass media, mass organizations and campuses need to build mutual trust. This is important because it is related to terrorism, the psychology of distrust and the conspirative mentality continues to increase in society.

No less important is religion. It is clear that condemnation and criticism that "terrorism is not related to religion" is no longer adequate. Religious leaders need to reform their religious comprehension and praxis, which are used as the basis by extremists, radicals and terrorists to commit violence. The renewed religious comprehension and praxis can be socialized across broadcast media or conventional dakwah (proselytizing). Dakwah through social media and an empathetic personal approach can effectively win the hearts and appease citizens who can easily act in the name of religion.

AZYUMARDI AZRA, History professor, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta; Member of the Cultural Commission, the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI).

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.