Tenggulun subdistrict in Selokuro, Lamongan, East Java, was once infamous because of the October 2002 arrests of three Bali bombers, brothers Ali Gufron, Amrozi and Ali Imron, known as the Trio Tenggulun.

Now, 15 years later, the subdistrict attracted public attention again after more than 40 former terrorist inmates and combatants from various conflict areas, including Afghanistan and Mindanau in the Philippines, gathered there to vow loyalty to Indonesia and promised to help fight extremism.

“I have promised to preach, voicing peace. I want to help the government, persuade others to repent and together develop Indonesia,” Agus Martin, alias Hasan, 36, said recently. Agus was imprisoned for committing acts of terror in Poso, Central Sulawesi, and Ambon, Maluku.

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