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terrorism observer who is also a former terrorism convict, Nasir Abbas, said he was so concerned for Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, and the members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) he led that he expressed a willingness to go into the forest to persuade Santoso and his people to surrender.

“It’s enough, Santoso. Come down. Surrendering is better. Have mercy on your family. What are you up to? Indonesia does not fight against Muslims. Indonesia respects and gives consideration to Islam,” Nasir said in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday night.

Nasir, who is a former chairman of Mantiqi III Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), was in the city to talk in a forum on radicalism undertaken in the name of religion. He said what Santoso and his men had been doing was a deviation from Islamic teachings. Thus, it had to be stopped to prevent it from causing more harm.

“If I am given a chance to meet with Santoso I will talk to him and ask him to surrender,” Nasir said.

Sociologist and peace activist Muhammad Marzuki of Tadulako University (Untad) Palu said that the environment contributed to the emergence of radicalism in Indonesia. To prevent radicalism from emerging, he said, the same methods that were used in the recruitment process must be applied.

“Radicalism in Islam can be prevented using the ‘rahmatan lil ‘alamin’ [spreading love and affection] approach,” Marzuki said.

Separately, the spokesperson of the Operation Tinombala taskforce, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hari Suprapto, said that the efforts to locate Santoso and his men have increased and that about 21 members of the terrorist group remained in the woods.