How Terrorists Emerge Lone Wolf: Build Political Identity

Head of BNPT Komjen Boy Rafli Amar (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - Head of BNPT Komjen Boy Rafli Amar uncovered the way terrorism groups can bring up new terrorist cells.

"Terror groups are still doing old ways. They are doing propaganda with the aim of showing distrust or distrust of the government," said Head of BNPT Boy Rafli Amar in a written statement received in Jakarta, Monday, September 19.

He conveyed this when giving a lecture in front of 210 students at the Police Science College (STIK-PTIK).

Boy Rafli said terror groups often ride strategic issues to create distrust in the government. Their hope is the occurrence of polarization of the community so as to create new terrorist cells.

"Propaganda of terror groups that oppose the state take advantage of economic issues and other issues, this is their way of wanting a distrust to occur to the government," Boy Rafli said as quoted by Antara.

In addition, terror groups also build identity politics with the aim of establishing polarization in the community.

"If it is not anticipated, this polarization can give birth to new terrorism cells even single or single-wolf actors," he said.

He explained that the terror group's propaganda efforts were carried out through social media. The perpetrators are also aware that social media can attract sympathy and a collective spirit in a short time.

In an effort to ward off the propaganda of terror groups, the National Police, which is a partner of BNPT, is expected to transform five fields, namely national insight, development of welfare, religious moderation, national cultural roots and revitalizing the value of Pancasila.

Transformation can protect the public from the propaganda of terrorism radicalism circulating in cyberspace.

"The state has a duty to protect citizens from being involved in terrorism. Therefore, we must carry out the transformation together with other stakeholders," he said.