BNPT Chief Installs Internet Peace Envoys, Urges Society to Resist Radicalism
Jakarta. Comr. Gen. Suhardi Alius, head of the National Counterterrorism Agency, or BNPT, has called on all elements of Indonesian society to oppose radicalism, both in the virtual world and in real life.
During a training session for the virtual world peace ambassadors in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday (13/04), Suhardi said there is nowhere to hide from terrorist attacks in real life, or from radical ideologies that are spread on the internet.
"The virtual world has no more filter, as everything can be presented there. It can occur everywhere around us," he said.
"The role of these ambassadors of the BNPT is to battle these ideologies by spreading peaceful content on the internet," he added.
Several websites were set up for this purpose, including www.aku.dutadamai.id, www.bhinneka.dutadamai.id, www.saung.dutadamai.id, www.cahaya.dutadamai.id and www.hanjuang.dutadamai.id.
Although it would not be easy to battle the spread of radical ideologies online, Suhardi believes the younger generation will be successful.
"On behalf of the government and the state, I request your help to become actively involved in counter-radicalization efforts on the internet. In the future, the peace ambassadors should be able to establish integrated networks to strengthen their performance," he said.
Suhardi mentioned a recent survey, which showed that 64 percent of internet users are young people still trying to define themselves.
He said it would be dangerous if such people were unduly influenced by radical content on the internet.
The fight against terrorism should also involve improving the livelihoods and education of people, to prevent them from being more susceptible to extremist ideologies, Suhardi added.
"I think young people should be supported in the efforts to battle terrorism. I urge them to flood the internet with peaceful content. Hopefully, we can save the nation and become free from terrorist threats," he said.
The BNPT trained internet peace ambassadors in Medan (North Sumatra), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Jakarta and Yogyakarta last year. It has been expanded to seven more cities this year.
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