Anwar Abbas MUI Protests About Terrorism Infiltrating Islamic Organizations, BNPT Values Gardening Radicalism, Extremism And Terrorism

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council Anwar Abbas spoke following a statement by the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) regarding the new terrorist strategy. In Indonesia, perpetrators infiltrate into parties, Islamic organizations to state institutions to control these institutions.

According to Anwar, BNPT should prioritize terrorism in Papua. Quoting the statement of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan that terrorism in Papua causes fear in the community.

"Never mind the ordinary people, the police and the army are afraid. So why are the big ones not taken care of, why not the big ones take precedence," said Anwar Abbas when contacted by VOI, Sunday, February 20.

Anwar Abbas also disagrees with the method used by BNPT today. There is an impression that the agency, which is commanded by Komjen Boy Rafli Amar, only started moving when terrorism had become a major case.

"So I want the issue of radicalism, extremism, terrorism, not only to be handled by the BNPT, the minister of interior and the minister of religion. But also to involve elements of society. Today's impression is that BNPT is currently gardening radicalism, extremism, and terrorism. I don't want to be like that. So put out the fire when it's small, don't do it when it grows up," he said firmly.

He added, BNPT today is only busy coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) and the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag). The BNPT should also involve the community and religious leaders. Also, an important task that must be completed is to find the root cause of terrorism.

According to Abbas, all problems in this nation, including terrorism, are injustice. "Practices of injustice, ignoring the value of truth, practices that ignore the value of togetherness. I see, when it comes to extremism, radicalism, and terrorism. Don't just talk about bomb explosions, but look for causes," said Abbas.

Spokesman for the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Irfan Idris previously said that terrorists are currently hiding in parties, Islamic organizations, and state institutions. "Never mind state institutions, let alone parties. The ummah's organization, which we really hope to produce fatwas on the people's anxiety about national issues, has also been entered by (terrorists)," Irfan said at the BNPT Sharing Session in South Jakarta, last Friday.

According to Irfan, this new strategy was detected since ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi asked his followers, sympathizers, militants or supporters not only to come to Syria but to 'infiltrate' certain institutions. Initially the terrorists wanted to build a base in Poso, Central Sulawesi. However, this plan failed following the death of one of the leaders of the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT).

Irfan emphasized that this statement did not mean to accuse mass organizations, parties or institutions of being a hotbed of terrorism, but rather a warning to be careful.