Jakarta, IO – The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) head Boy Rafli Amar revealed that out of 1,036 ex-terrorism convicts who took part in deradicalization activities outside penitentiary centers, 116 have reoffended, reported Republika, Tuesday (14/2).
He further said that among those who have been released, not all had pledged allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia and regretted their actions. This, Boy said, is a challenge for BNPT going forward.
“According to our data, about 80 percent of them still hold fast to their stance, their ideology, to what they believe is the truth. This is our challenge in the future,” he explained.
According to Boy, most of them reoffended because they have “misguided thinking or distorted truth.” Thus, it is difficult for prison sentences and deradicalization programs to serve as a deterrent.
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“This is why when there were invitations from groups they had been involved with in the past, they tended to commit act of terrorism again. Thus, it is crucial that we evaluated this issue and strengthen supervision and inter-agency collaboration,” said Boy. (un)