Radicalism On Campus, BNPT Alludes To The Active Role Of The Chancellor's Forum

Illustration of teaching and learning activities on campus. (UGM Doc)

JAKARTA - The Director of Prevention of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Brigadier General Pol R Ahmad Nurwakhid said the existence of the academic community, such as the Rector's Forum, must be actively and productively involved in helping to solve radicalism and terrorism on campus.

"The role of the Chancellor or the academic community is very vital and significant so that it is needed to encourage policy makers, in this case the state and government. Because we are a democratic country, the main pillar is the rule of law so that regulation is very necessary. This is an effective solution to lower the index level potential for radicalism," he said in a written statement, Wednesday, June 8.

This was conveyed by Nurwakhid after the Focus Group Discussion Forum for the Chancellors of State Islamic Religious Universities (PTKIN) in Indonesia and Universities in Lampung Province on Tuesday, June 7.

Nurwakhid explained, BNPT in its strategy to combat radicalism and terrorism has made a policy called the pentahelix, involving multi-stakeholders which are divided into five major parties.

First, he continued, is the government, namely related ministries and institutions as well as local governments. Then the second is the community, the third is the academic community, the fourth is the media, and the fifth is the entrepreneur.

"Radicalism and terrorism are the responsibility of all elements of society, nation and state. Now the academic community, one of which is through the Rector's Forum, can be actively and productively involved in helping this nation to solve the problem of radicalism and terrorism," he said.

Nurwakhid hopes that the rectors will continue to protect the campus environment from the influence of the spread of radicalism and terrorism because in fact there is no link between radicalism and terrorism with the campus environment.

The Chancellor of IAIN Metro, Lampung, Hajah Siti Nurjanah added, the purpose of this discussion forum is how these rectors are responsible for the campus environment.

"This is so that students, lecturers, and employees are not exposed, not indicated by radical ideas that will actually lead to acts of terrorism in universities. Next is to strengthen religious moderation in all sectors," said Siti.

The chairman of the BNPT Expert Group who is also a member of the RI Presidential Advisory Council (Watimpres) Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Yahya asked all people to become the saviors of the nation and the people.

For this reason, Habib Luthfi said, the entire community must be able to become the glue of the ummah in order to avoid all kinds of divisions and not provide opportunities for other people or elements to divide the ummah and this nation.