Vice President Ma'ruf Amin: Countering Terrorism Involves Religious Leaders

Wapres Ma'ruf Amin (Photo: Instagtram Ma'ruf Amin)

SULAWESI - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin said counter-terrorism and radicalism will be intensively carried out to the regions by involving religious leaders.

"We already have an institution, the (National) Counter-Terrorism Agency. Therefore, this will continue to be intensified from the center to the regions, involving religious leaders,” said Vice President Ma'ruf in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Friday.

The Vice President explained that the counter-terrorism effort prioritizes counter-radicalization and de-radicalization of various community groups.

“First, of course, counter-radicalization. So because there has been a radicalization process, we (do) the counter, counter-radicalization," he added.

Furthermore, regarding deradicalization, the Vice President said it was given to community groups who had been exposed to radicalism; so as to rectify the misunderstanding of the religious understanding.

“Then, secondly, they have been exposed to deradicalization, to restore them by various methods. If radicalism is concluded by erroneous religious understanding, then that must be corrected," he said.

This radical understanding must be addressed and straightened out, as well as correcting injustices that are considered wrong by groups exposed to this understanding.

“The problem, for example, is injustice from which side should be corrected. Countering terrorism, continued the Vice President, requires cooperation from various parties, ranging from the education, social, religious and economic sectors, by involving ministries and non-ministerial government institutions (K/L). related.

“And this involves all institutions, agencies. Because it's in education, there's the Ministry of Religion, there's also the (Ministry) of Social Affairs, there's even the (Ministry of SOEs)," he explained.

All ministries/agencies involved in counter-terrorism are under the coordination of BNPT, so that they become unity and work together. The Vice President also added that counter-radicalism and de-radicalization must be handled massively from an early age, so that there is no wider spread of radicalism.

"Therefore, it has become an agreement that this is handled massively from childhood, as early as possible, so that they are not provoked," said the Vice President.