Strengthening Public Participation in Deradicalization in Indonesia

Acts of terrorism are not something new in Indonesia. Since the beginning of independence, the Old Order era, the New Order era until now, acts of terrorism have always existed in different forms, motives and movements. The coping strategies are also different following the pattern of acts of terrorism. In the reform era, acts of terrorism increased significantly both in quantity and quality. Until the government looked increasingly serious in tackling acts of terrorism by issuing Perpres No.46 of 2010 concerning the establishment of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) which in 2012 was amended by Presidential Regulation No.12 of 2012. This paper uses a descriptive qualitative approach as the main writing approach, and uses a three-category civil participation model from the OECD as an analysis tool. The results of this study are: Communication strategies are needed to shape the information infrastructure and target groups to become more knowledgeable. However, the possibility of several problems remain, such as how to overcome the passivity of the community and the lack of use of information in regional mass media. To get input from the public, BNPT can create a program to inform the public about the problem of terrorism. Several activities were carried out, such as: (1) study tour for journalists; (2) conferences on terrorism; and (3) visits to areas potentially exposed to radicals and directing private meetings with the public. The government can build partnerships with Islamic-based organizations and NGOs that pay attention to the problem of terrorism. The partnership that is built will influence the public to be more active as the eyes and ears of the government in detecting radical ideas that will lead to acts of terrorism. The partnership will help the government achieve the goal of deradicalization through: reduction of power, knowledge, and specific intelligence.