Some radical groups have set a target of recruiting young people, including university students. According to Anas Saidi, senior researcher of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), university students who study hard sciences are "at greater risk of indoctrination" than those studying social and political sciences, humanities and philosophy. He argued that the latter "were more resistant to radical beliefs". (http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/02/19/science-students-vulnerable-radicalization.html.)
Making young people be the radical groups' targeted recruits is reasonable because many of them psychologically tend to follow something new but attractive. Therefore, several radical groups have targeted secular campuses in Indonesia to enable them to get more followers.
There are at least three reasons for the redicalists to recruit new followers from secular universities. Firstly, compared with religious campuses, the secular ones have more flexible norms. Most of their students have diverse religions so that “a democratic thought†would flourish. As a result, radical teachings have a great chance to change several students' attitude.
Secondly, students studying social and political sciences, humanities and philosophy are more susceptible to infiltration because they have capability to absorb a new paradigm or new teaching compared to those taking religious studies. The latter have a strict confidence in their faith. Besides that, students who study social and political sciences, humanities and philosophy do not think that religious understanding should be discussed.
Thirdly, as recently revealed by a research outcome, radical teachings have influenced a number of students and teachers in Indonesia. Bambang Pranowo’s research has shown that 52.3% of the students involving in his study supported acts of violence for religious solidarity and 14% agreed on bombing attacks.
Last but not least, 25% of teachers and 21% of students getting involved in the research project have thought that Pancasila (State Ideology) has no longer been relevant to the current situation.
Minimazing Radical Teachings and Intolerance
Violence is a way out for the mediocre. People having a little or no recognition and difficulties in social interaction, or feeling belittled by their surrounding will try to get something that makes them recognized. Since there will be no body who loves a nerd, they will have to resort to fear.
Religious intolerance is a perfect tool for somebody to become a fierce and scary "fighter". With a scary looking face when going out on the road, and boast your willingness to die, you will end up on first page, become the headline of TV's news bulletin, and make people shake in their pants.
Suddenly, you become a scary warrior and have no longer been an ignored nerd. Requiring no social interaction, you will gain all the recognition you can dream of, and you will get away with more or less anything in the name of your religion.
The rampant growth of radical teachings and intolerance in Indonesia is indeed a real threat to Pancasila and our people's solidarity. This condition will likely bring more chances for the radical or terrorist groups to launch attacks on Indonesia.
Therefore, the Indonesian Government needs to promote the religious tolerance in formal education. As part of subjects, it will be taught from elementary school to university levels in Indonesia. The religious tolerance is an inclusive part of Pancasila Ideology but it has not meaningfully been implemented since the fall of the New Order regime.
As a result, it has brought a serious impact such as the growth of radical and terrorist groups, acts of intolerance, and action that can downgrade a humankind value.
Furthermore, deradicalization programs implemented by related institutions or organizations should be more integrated and coordinated. By doing so, a mismanagement, double spending, and failing to achieve a target can be avoided. It must be admitted that all this time, deradicalization program has been carried out with lack of coordination.
Deradicalization program aimed at combating terrorism should also be reviewed because its implementation is overlapped among stakeholders. To get optimal results from the implementation of the program, the involvement of psychologists and sociologists is needed in the future to help know the intentions and background information on why someone will commit suicide for the sake of the act of terror.
*) The writer is a columnist for several newspapers and residing in East Jakarta.
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Megapolitan 2016
Making young people be the radical groups' targeted recruits is reasonable because many of them psychologically tend to follow something new but attractive. Therefore, several radical groups have targeted secular campuses in Indonesia to enable them to get more followers.
There are at least three reasons for the redicalists to recruit new followers from secular universities. Firstly, compared with religious campuses, the secular ones have more flexible norms. Most of their students have diverse religions so that “a democratic thought†would flourish. As a result, radical teachings have a great chance to change several students' attitude.
Secondly, students studying social and political sciences, humanities and philosophy are more susceptible to infiltration because they have capability to absorb a new paradigm or new teaching compared to those taking religious studies. The latter have a strict confidence in their faith. Besides that, students who study social and political sciences, humanities and philosophy do not think that religious understanding should be discussed.
Thirdly, as recently revealed by a research outcome, radical teachings have influenced a number of students and teachers in Indonesia. Bambang Pranowo’s research has shown that 52.3% of the students involving in his study supported acts of violence for religious solidarity and 14% agreed on bombing attacks.
Last but not least, 25% of teachers and 21% of students getting involved in the research project have thought that Pancasila (State Ideology) has no longer been relevant to the current situation.
Minimazing Radical Teachings and Intolerance
Violence is a way out for the mediocre. People having a little or no recognition and difficulties in social interaction, or feeling belittled by their surrounding will try to get something that makes them recognized. Since there will be no body who loves a nerd, they will have to resort to fear.
Religious intolerance is a perfect tool for somebody to become a fierce and scary "fighter". With a scary looking face when going out on the road, and boast your willingness to die, you will end up on first page, become the headline of TV's news bulletin, and make people shake in their pants.
Suddenly, you become a scary warrior and have no longer been an ignored nerd. Requiring no social interaction, you will gain all the recognition you can dream of, and you will get away with more or less anything in the name of your religion.
The rampant growth of radical teachings and intolerance in Indonesia is indeed a real threat to Pancasila and our people's solidarity. This condition will likely bring more chances for the radical or terrorist groups to launch attacks on Indonesia.
Therefore, the Indonesian Government needs to promote the religious tolerance in formal education. As part of subjects, it will be taught from elementary school to university levels in Indonesia. The religious tolerance is an inclusive part of Pancasila Ideology but it has not meaningfully been implemented since the fall of the New Order regime.
As a result, it has brought a serious impact such as the growth of radical and terrorist groups, acts of intolerance, and action that can downgrade a humankind value.
Furthermore, deradicalization programs implemented by related institutions or organizations should be more integrated and coordinated. By doing so, a mismanagement, double spending, and failing to achieve a target can be avoided. It must be admitted that all this time, deradicalization program has been carried out with lack of coordination.
Deradicalization program aimed at combating terrorism should also be reviewed because its implementation is overlapped among stakeholders. To get optimal results from the implementation of the program, the involvement of psychologists and sociologists is needed in the future to help know the intentions and background information on why someone will commit suicide for the sake of the act of terror.
*) The writer is a columnist for several newspapers and residing in East Jakarta.
Editor : M. Tohamaksun
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Megapolitan 2016