Alert To Indonesian Islamic State, BNPT: Its Ideology Inspires Radicalism And Terrorism Movements In Indonesia

Director of Prevention of the National Counter Terrorism Agency Brigadier General Pol. Ahmad Nurwakhid. (ANTARA/HO-BNPT)

JAKARTA - Director of Prevention of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Brigadier General Pol. Ahmad Nurwakhid revealed that the Indonesian Islamic State group (NII) has an ideology that is contrary to Pancasila. According to him, NII animates the radicalism movement in the country.

"NII is the first political organization and movement in Indonesia to radicalize political movements, in the name of religion, which is very dangerous to the sovereignty of the state. The ideology of the NII is the parent ideology that animates radicalism and terrorism movements in Indonesia", said Nurwakhid in a statement received in Jakarta, Wednesday, March 30.

In addition to the potential to carry out acts of violence and terror to achieve its goal of establishing a state based on religious law, the NII is also a threat to a harmonious life in Indonesia because it is contrary to national consensus. He said NII has a government structure that operates underground.

He explained that the spread of terrorism in Indonesia has historical and ideological roots that can be traced from the Kartosoewiryo movement through the Darul Islam/Indonesian Islamic Army (DI/TII) in the 1950s.

This movement was one of the rebellion movements that caught the attention of the Government at that time, because apart from its large number of members, it also carried out i'dad or training, and had a pesantren as a means to instill anti-Pancasila doctrine.

In fact, he continued, according to one of the sons of the founder of DI/TII, Sarjono Kartoesuwiryo, when he declared his pledge of allegiance to Pancasila in 2019 at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Politics, Law and Human Rights, according to official data, currently there are around 2 million members of the NII and not including those who not recorded.

According to Nurwakhid, in addition to the existence of NII today, the movement in the following period also metamorphosed into various networks, one of which was Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) which was founded by Abdullah Sungkar and Abu Bakar Baasyir in the 90s.

"JI has been designated as the terrorist organization most responsible for a series of acts of terrorism in Indonesia in early 2000, and it is proven that it wants to turn the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia into a caliphate that includes Asian countries. And the majority of its congregations are former DI/ TII is affiliated with the global terrorism network, Al-Qaeda", he explained.

Therefore, he continued, the movement and ideology of NII should be watched out for because it has an ideology that can encourage criminal acts of terrorism, by justifying various ways to achieve its goals. In addition, the dangers of this ideology have proven to be victims of indoctrination regardless of age, he added.

"The ideology of the NII is very dangerous because it has the belief and desire to change the ideology of the state, overthrow the legitimate government which is considered to be treacherous, have a takfiri ideology, carry out underground movements with recruitment and training or i'dad", he said.

The NII organization has been banned by the government. However, he said, no regulation prohibits the ideology that has inspired many acts of violence and terrorism in Indonesia.

He hopes that religious leaders, academics, and all parties provide enlightenment to the public so that they are not easily influenced by the NII ideology, and encourage regulations that prohibit the spread of ideologies contrary to Pancasila.

"I am very happy with the firmness of the Garut MUI which clearly issued a fatwa for the organization and the NII Movement. Hopefully, this will also be followed by the Central MUI and other religious organizations to close the NII's space", he said.