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Govt to involve ex-terrorists in renewed de-radicalization program
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Ali Imron (left), one of the 2002 Bali bombers, is taken through a Jakarta Police station. (tribunnews.com/Glery Lazuardi)
T
he government will facilitate former “big fish” terrorists who have repented and are determined to take part in the country's de-radicalization programs, says Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan.
Many ex-militants are now promoting moderate views of Islam. Jumu Tuani, a former commander of the Laskar Jihad paramilitary group in Ambon, Maluku, and the 2002 Bali Bombing convict Ali Imron are among those prepared to join the effort.
"I think it is great. I actually have invited them to my office alongside Yenny [Wahid] to draft the program [...] It is certainly an effort that we have to work on together," Luhut said in Jakarta on Tuesday, referring to Yenny Wahid the director of the moderate Islam NGO the Wahid Foundation.
Aside from the NGO -- founded by the daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid, the de-radicalization program will include Islamic civil society groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, he said.
Meanwhile on the government's side, the Religious Affairs Ministry and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) will be involved in drafting the new de-radicalization program, Luhut said.
Through the involvement of various stakeholders in the program, including the former militants, it is hoped to maximize the de-radicalization efforts and to maintain peace in Indonesia so that the country will not turn into a war-zone like Syria, he added. (ags)
