M

ore people are now aware that funding terrorist activities is a crime in the country, according to a recent survey.

The survey conducted by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) has shown an increase in public awareness of terrorism financing over the years, rising to 5.06 this year from 4.92 last year on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (excellent).

The study, which was carried out in collaboration with 16 relevant ministries and state institutions, including the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), interviewed one member of 11,040 families above the age of 17 in 173 regencies and cities across the country’s 34 provinces.

The result showed that many people acknowledged that providing funds to support terrorist and radical groups was a crime, even though the money came from a legitimate source, Amrizal of the BNPT’s inspectorate said on Tuesday.

“The public has become more aware in donating their money. [...] Yet many people appeared to not understand that the organization or group they had donated their money to was possibly a radical group,” Amrizal said.

According to the study, awareness of terrorism financing was higher among people who live in urban areas compared to those who live in villages, scoring 5.11 and 5, respectively.

The study also showed that people between the ages of 17 and 23 had a better understanding of the issue than older age groups. People with higher education also understood better that funding terrorist groups was considered a crime in the country.

Under the 2013 Prevention and Eradication of Terrorism Financing law, people who participate in the funding of terrorist activities are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 1 billion (US$69,013).

However, people tended to fall into the trap of unknowingly donating for terrorism purposes because they were lured by religion and humanity narratives the radical groups used to raise money under the pretext of charity, Amrizal said.

Some radical groups, for instance, went door-to-door at mosques or houses, asking residents to donate money for humanitarian causes although they actually did not have proper credentials on their institutions and programs, he said.

Other people were also lured into donating by messages broadcast via WhatsApp because they felt like they wanted to do a good deed as taught by their religion, BNPT said.

“We need to educate people to be cautious in making donations,” Amrizal said, “It’s great to do a good deed, but we have to make sure that the organization is credible and our money will be used for a good purpose.”

A 2017 national risk assessment on terrorism financing by PPATK, BNPT and other agencies, showed that donation was one of the funding sources of terror activities that were rather hard to track because the money was distributed in cash and did not leave a trace.

Islamic State-linked Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), a homegrown terror group behind the deadly Surabaya church bombings, for instance, was known to have used money from infaq (charity) in mosques — where some JAD leaders led Islamic study sessions — to fund their operations.

In August, the South Jakarta District Court found JAD guilty of committing a number of terror acts across the country, declaring it a “forbidden organization” and ordering that all of its activities be frozen.

PPATK’s deputy for enforcement Firman Shantyabudi said many groups tended to collect the money in cash to prevent the PPATK from investigating the transactions.

“This is why it’s better to push for prevention measures, such as reminding people to be cautious when they donate their money,” Firman said.