Social Psychologist, Prof. Dr. Koentjoro presumed that the recent movement that has caught public attention, Gafatar (Gerakan Fajar Nusantara), is targeting youth with background of higher education, such as college students, lecturer, doctors, and others.
“Their target is young intellectuals, who don’t have critical thinking skill,” he explained, Wednesday (13/1) at UGM.
According to the man, Gafatar is very cunning to influence their recruits by presenting their vision and mission of Gafatar. They give promises that make them think they will get a better life in the state administered by a government they believe is corrupted.
“Generally, people who join this group are the ones that are dissapointed and unsatisfied over religions and current government,” he said.
Prof. Koentjoro added that Gafatar brainwashed their recruits. They try to plant an ideology, target and group objective.
“Their idealism is ravaged and they are promised to get a better life by becoming part of this group,” he said.
To avoid brainwash that is commonly done by this group, Koentjoro stated the importance of critical thinking to view every problem. To define the fact is not just assuming but also using information analysis and evaluation before making any decision.
“The key is critical thinking to be able to avoid extreme groups,” he stated.
Contacted separately, UGM Sociologist, M. Najib Azca, Ph.D., said that Gafatar is a new transformation of Milah Ibrahimah or Ibrahim Religion. This group is part of bigger group led by Ahmad Musadeq.
“Gafatar or Gerakan Fajar Nusantara develops a theory to particular religion that is different from Islam in common. Religion identity is disengaged,” he explained.
Najib said that Gafatar is a millennial movement that is trying to build better and purer order.
“This group promises many benefits to its members and society. Therefore, the phenomenon of Hijrah (flight to be better) arised,” he added.
The decision to hijrah apparently produces another problem which is abandoned family. This problem is similar to the case of dr. Rica Tri Handayani, though she was finally found at the Pangkalan Bun, Central Borneo.
Related to the recruitment process, Najib said that this group commonly used small group such as study group. Through this group, they are putting ideology of Al Qaidah Al Islamiyah though they recruited members from any religion, such as Islam, Christianity, and Catholicism.
“This group is originally from Abrahamic religion that admits the similarity of Islam, Judaism and Christianity so they recruited Muslim, Christian, and Catholic,” he explained.