Terrorist Ideology Has Infiltrated Schools: President Jokowi

President Jokowi accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla leads Limited Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/5) (Photo: PR/Jay)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said that hard power approach to prevent terrorism is much needed, but still not enough to prevent terrorism act.

“We need to balance it with soft power approach,” the President said in Limited Meeting on Counter Terrorism, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/5).

The soft power approach, according to President Jokowi, is not only manifested by improving de-radicalization program for ex-terrorist prisoners but also by cleansing educational institutions starting from kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools, vocational schools, colleges and public spaces, from radical ideology.

Also according to the President, these preventive measures are important considering that the suicide bombing attacks in Surabaya and Sidoarjo involved family, women, and underage children.

“It is a warning for us, a wake-up call, that family has been the target of indoctrination of terrorist ideology,” the President continued adding that the ideology has infiltrated families and schools.

Therefore, President Jokowi requested that hard power and soft power approaches should be integrated, balanced, and mutually reinforced so that the preventive measures and counter-terrorism efforts can be more effective.

Extraordinary Crime

Earlier in his introductory remarks, President Jokowi reminded that terrorism is an extraordinary crime against the State, nation, and humanity. He added that almost all countries in the world face the threat of terrorism.

“The threat of terrorism is not just happening in conflict-affected countries, but also in developed countries such as the United States and European Union countries,” said President Jokowi.

Because it is an extraordinary crime, then according to the President, it needs extraordinary ways to face, fight against, and counter terrorism.

The President also added that all this time the focus of all parties is more on the hard power approach, by using a firm, hard, and uncompromising law enforcement as well as hunting and dismantling terrorist networks to the roots.

However, the President considered, hard power approach is not enough. “It is time to balance between soft power and hard power approaches,” the President concluded.

The Limited Meeting was attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut B Pandjaitan, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Defense Ryamizard Ryacudu, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna M Laoly, Minister of Communications and Informatics Rudiantara, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Minister of Health Nila F Moelok, Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Asman Abnur, Attorney General M Prasetyo, Commander of Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, Indonesian National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, Head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Budi Gunawan, and Head of National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Suhardi Alius. (FID/ES) (STU/MMB/Naster)