Staying Alert to Terrorism

Several recent cases involving suspected terrorists have reminded us that we must remain alert to the threat of terrorism.

KOMPAS

Special Detachment 88 Arrests Four Suspected JI Affiliated Terrorists in Lampung.

One of these cases concerned a shoot-out between six suspected terrorists and officers from the National Police’s Densus 88 anti-terrorism squad in Lampung on Tuesday and Wednesday (11-12/4/2023). Two terrorists were killed and four others were arrested during the incident, while one policeman suffered a gunshot wound.

On Monday (10/4), two policemen were injured when they were assaulted by three Uzbekistan nationals trying to flee from the North Jakarta Immigration Office. The three were members of the Katiba Tawhid Wal Jihad terrorist network and were waiting to be deported to their country of origin.

The incident left one immigration officer dead and another injured. Two of the Uzbekistan nationals were recaptured, while the third was found dead in Sunter River. It was believed he drowned while trying to escape.

On 16 March, five other terrorist suspects were also arrested in Central Sulawesi.

Also read:

> Terror Networks Target Young Families

> Terror and National Security

The variety of these suspected terrorism cases have made it difficult to determine a pattern to why an individual is involved in such acts. At the same time, it is also not easy to develop a precise formula on how to prevent someone from becoming swept up in acts of terrorism or terror networks around them.

A number of acts of terrorism even involved former terror convicts. This occurred, for example, in the suicide bombing attack at the Astananyar Police station in the city of Bandung, West Java, on 7 Dec. 2022. Agus Sujatno, the suicide bomber who carried out the attack, was previously involved in the 2017 bombing attack in Cicendo, Bandung, for which he had been sentenced to four months in prison.

KOMPAS/NORBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR

Head of the National Police's Public Information Bureau Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan (center) together with the Head of the Special Operations Assistance Section for Densus 88 Anti-terror Police Senior Commissioner Aswin Siregar (right) showing pictures of evidence confiscated in the arrest of 6 suspected terrorists in Lampung, Thursday (13/4/2023) .

The perpetrators of terror acts are also growing diverse, and have even started to involve family members. This can be seen in the suicide bombing attack that a family carried out in May 2018 in Surabaya, East Java, as well as other incidents.

Amidst this condition, a number of people have made a conscious decision to leave radical networks and want contribute positively in a new way. For example, this can be seen in the case of Umar Patek, alias Nasir Abbas. People like him should be accepted openly and given the opportunity to redefine their lives. At the same time, their presence can also help deradicalization efforts.

Also read:

> Police Asked to Thoroughly Investigate Terrorist Network

> Double Burden Borne by Children of Terror Convicts

Deradicalization efforts, apart from involving many parties and being carried out in a more comprehensive manner, must also be accompanied by other measures, such as promoting literacy and upholding a sense of justice in society. Such approaches are necessary because these factors can contribute to radicalism.

At the same time, vigilance must be maintained against the threat of terrorism. Caution is also needed, lest anyone take the opportunity to commit such actions. Finally, these various efforts to overcome terrorism require the involvement of a strong government.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.