JAKARTA - The elite counter-terrorism unit of the Indonesian National Police, Densus 88, has been urged to remain vigilant over Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) following the organisation’s recent dissolution announcement by its prominent leaders.
Special staff to the Minister of Religion for radicalism and intolerance Nuruzzaman emphasised the need for Densus 88 to continue efforts to counter radicalisation.
He stressed the importance of engaging with JI supporters to prevent lingering influences similar to Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), which was disbanded in 2017 for failing to align with national goals.
"The leadership of JI has acknowledged their ideological mistakes. The firm stance taken by JI to reaffirm its commitment to Indonesia deserves recognition, unlike HTI,” he stated in a statement.
Nuruzzaman praised the unit for its successful deradicalisation initiatives, stating, "We commend Densus 88 for their effective use of soft approaches, which facilitated JI's dissolution and reaffirmation of loyalty to Indonesia.”
He also urged the ministry and stakeholders in Islamic Education to support Islamic boarding schools affiliated with JI as their leaders willing to adopt the national education curriculum.
He highlighted the need for JI’s reintegration into the Republic of Indonesia to extend beyond its leadership to encompass all members at the grassroots level.
Local media reported various reactions to JI’s dissolution, incorporating insights from multiple terrorism experts who highlighted that Indonesian authorities, particularly Densus 88, are committed to maintaining domestic security.
Experts pointed out that although senior leaders have declared dissolution, lower-ranking members of JI have not made any statements, prompting concerns about potential reactions and chain reactions among discontented members after the dissolution.
In response, the director of prevention at the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) Irfan Idris explained that the declaration of JI’s dissolution extends beyond the leadership level to include members at lower levels.
"BNPT remains committed to combating radicalism to prevent any terrorism threats from arising again in Indonesia and continues to enhance community involvement to strengthen national immunity, safeguarding women, children, as well as adolescents,” he added.
Sixteen senior leaders of JI, a radical extremist network in Southeast Asia linked to Al-Qaeda, formally declared the dissolution of the organisation on June 30 in Bogor, West Java.
The announcement was made via a video recording that included statements from the council of senior members and leaders of affiliated educational institutions and Islamic boarding schools. - BERNAMA