BNPT Records Trends Of Radicalism In Indonesia According To The Pandemic Period

JAKARTA - Head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner-General Boy Rafli Amar revealed that the trend of radicalism tended to decline during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amar explained, the decline in the trend of potential radicalism during the COVID-19 pandemic was evident from the results of a survey conducted by BNPT with Alvara Research and the Nasarudin Umar Foundation.

In the survey, Indonesia is in the medium category of countries affected by terrorism. Meanwhile, at the regional level in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is still safer than the Philippines, Thailand, and Myanmar.

"The results of a survey conducted by BNPT with the Alvara Research, and Nasarudin Umar Foundation, stated that the trend of potential radicalism in Indonesia decreased from 2017 by 55.2 percent or in the medium category. In 2019, 38.4 percent was in a low category and became 14 percent. 2020 is a very low category", said Amar during the meeting with Commission III of the Indonesian Parliament at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday, March 22.

However, Amar continued, globally, Indonesia must remain vigilant because of the widespread terrorism through online media.

This, he said, was called for by the United Nations by issuing resolution number 532 on July 1, 2020, to maintain international peace and security during a pandemic.

"The content of his call was asking for a ceasefire in conflict areas in various parts of the world", he said.

Even so, Amar added, the request for a ceasefire did not apply to military operations against international terrorists including ISI and Al Qaeda.

"This shows that efforts to eradicate international terrorism are still being carried out even though we are facing a pandemic period", he concluded.