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Inmates praise conflict-management program
Convicted terrorist Abdul Rouf, 35, who supplied explosives used in the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, has said he is now a completely different person
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onvicted terrorist Abdul Rouf, 35, who supplied explosives used in the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, has said he is now a completely different person.
The inmate, who is serving a 16-year jail term at Tangerang Penitentiary, said he was benefitting from a conflict-management course that he was currently enrolled in at the prison.
“This is still the third day of the five-day training program I am taking here. The results have been very good,” he told The Jakarta Post at the penitentiary Tuesday.
Abdul said he and another Bali Bombing convict, Andri, had been happier since being transferred from Denpasar Penitentiary, Bali, last year.
“I smile more,” Abdul said.
Another inmate, Edi Purnaman, 35, who was found guilty of domestic violence, said the training
had opened his mind and broadened his point of view on the world around him.
“I can also manage my emotion now. I used to just take things as they were but now I can understand why a problem has developed,” said the former Jakarta administration civil servant.
He said he had found the training of practical use in his day-to-day life.
The training program was organized by Search for Common Ground, an international NGO focusing on conflict management in cooperation with the Directorate General of Correctional Institutions, the Jakarta Legal Aids Institute and the Prasasti Perdamaian Foundation.
The participants were divided into two groups. Group one comprised of 25 inmates and group two of prison wardens who have daily contact with inmates from five correctional institutions in Tangerang.
“The 25 inmates were convicted of drug offenses, murder, violence and corruption,” Agus Nahrowi, Search for Common Ground Indonesia’s senior program officer, said.
Akuang, alias Iwan Samin, who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for possessing 1 ton of crystal methamphetamine (shabu-shabu) in Teluknaga, Tangerang regency, was among the inmates who passed the program.
He said the program aimed to empower inmates and prison wardens to be able to manage conflicts, such as outbreaks of violence, through communication and constructive action.
The program employed a number of games — including tieing the ankles of two people together and asking them to walk, role playing games focusing on negotiating and a series of interactive
discussions.
“Based on evaluations and reviews of training programs we have held at six correctional institutions, inmates’ self confidence greatly improved and they showed positive responses when presented with conflicts,” Agus added.
The program, which targeted inmates and prison officers, started in 2007.
