Government Is Asked To Be Aware Of Radicalism Movement Ahead Of 2024 Election

University of Indonesia Criminologist Arijani Lasmawati/Antara

JAKARTA - University of Indonesia criminologist Arijani Lasmawati asked the government to be aware of radical movements ahead of the 2024 General Election, as happened during the 2017 DKI Jakarta governor election and 2019 presidential election.

"Political contestation in the DKI Jakarta governor election and the 2019 presidential election, especially with the 212 mass action, escalated the development of radicalism in Indonesia," said Arijani as quoted by Antara, Monday, January 24.

She made this statement when explaining the results of her research in a research seminar entitled, "The Involvement of Youth in Terrorism Crimes in Indonesia as a Designated Victim" which was broadcast on the Zoom meeting platform and monitored from Jakarta, Monday.

Ari, Arijani's nickname, conducted interviews with four representatives of former members of the terror group. Through the interview, she obtained information that radical groups were actively bringing the four people into the vortex of political contestation.

"It is undeniable that the 212 mass action was an event that arose as a result of the chaotic Jakarta governor election at that time," she said.

Informants who previously focused on purely religious activities, such as eradicating alcohol and gambling, became involved in radical networks as a result of these political events.

“Mass gatherings are in very large and dense conditions, and social media has become a topic of discussion. That's what I photograph as an escalation," she said.

One of Ari's informants who is a former member of a terror group has the initials DR. Ari said that DR began to be interested in radical Islam since networking with FPI sympathizers, precisely during the 2021 mass action.

After Prabowo's defeat in the 2019 presidential election, Ari continued, DR was disappointed with FPI and turned to ISIS sympathizers.

The results of the interview led Ari to the conclusion that political upheaval can trigger the development of radicalism movements in the country, especially radicalism involving teenagers.

"This is a social context that deserves to be vigilant. In the future there will be political contestation in 2024, this needs to be a concern for all of us. The potential threat may increase regarding youth and radicalism,” said Ari.