Kepala BNPT Ajak Mahasiswa UGM Jauhi Paham Radikal
Kepala BNPT Ajak Mahasiswa UGM Jauhi Paham Radikal
Chief of Indonesia’s National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), Com. Gen. Suhardi Alius, attended a guest lecture at UGM’s graduate student welcome ceremony, Monday (9/25), at Grha Sabha Pramana, Yogyakarta. In front of 3,464 new students, Suhardi advised them to immediately report both students or lecturers who promoted radicalism on campus. "If there are mentors who teach inappropriate things, report it to lecturers, deans and rectors," he said.
According to Suhardi, radicalism has spread to various lines even to educational institutions, ranging from higher education to early childhood education. "Radicalism is everywhere. There are kindergarteners who refuse to go to malls with their parents because they think other people are infidels.”
He mentioned that the characteristics of radicalism are intolerance, anti-Pancasila and anti-Indonesia behaviors, as well as calling others infidel. This was based on the BNPT's experience in examining former convicted terrorists and their family members. "From the psychological mapping, the son of the family of suicide bombers in Surabaya has a strong desire to be a martyr, anti-Pancasila, and anti-Indonesia. He longed to meet his parents in the afterlife and missed watching violent acts movies with them,”
Not only through discussions and meetings, he added, radicalism is also spread through websites and social media. "Radicalization on websites and social media aims to provoke the lone wolf phenomenon or suicide bombing. So, don’t let it influence our families.”
Although the government has made de-radicalization efforts, he hoped that all citizens would increase their sense of nationhood by mutually detecting a change in other people’s behavior.
“Go look for a friend who suddenly disappears and allegedly has an exclusive group because that is where indoctrination begins.”
UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., Ph.D., in his remarks welcomed the new students to the university’s big family. "As the first national university, UGM has two goals, which are working for humanity and fighting for national development," he said.
During their studies, Panut said, graduate students are highly encouraged to create innovative products from research activities. They are also required to maintain tolerance and respect for diversity. "I am sure after you graduate in two or four years, UGM will always be in your heart wherever you go.”
This welcoming ceremony was marked by the attachment of the university jacket to four representative students by the Rector, witnessed by Vice Rector for Education, Learning and Student Affairs, Prof. Djagal Wiseso Marseno, as well as Director of Student Affairs, Dr. R. Suharyadi, M.Sc.