BNPT Urges FKPT to Oversee Islamic Boarding Schools

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT) has urged the ranks of the Terrorism Prevention Coordination Forum (FKPT) at the local level to oversee the 18 Islamic boarding schools (Pesantren) for indications of potential radicalism.

During the FKPT National Working Meeting here on Tuesday, BNPT Chief Commissioner General Saud Usman Nasution expressed hope that the FKPT would increase its role in overseeing such Islamic boarding schools in 2016.

"The allocation of Rp1 billion worth of funds for each FKPT should be accounted for by an increase in research and data collection on the location of radicalism in the region," he emphasized.

Currently, there are 32 FKPTs at the provincial level in Indonesia, except the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The FKPT in the region is tasked with examining the potential of terrorist movements, creating an early alert system of the dangers of terrorism, providing counterterrorism training for the youth, educating all elements of the society, and coaching former and current inmates.

The BNPT noted that the 18 Islamic boarding schools showing signs of potential radicalism include the Islamic Amanah in Poso, Central Sulawesi; Nurul Hadid and Al-Muttaqin in Cirebon, West Java; Al-Abqory and Al-Islam in Serang, Banten; and Darul Aman in Makassar, South Sulawesi, among others.

"I believe the number could be more or less because the initial benchmark is the engagement of students, teachers, or in collaboration with a radical group that has been processed by the law," Nasution noted.

However, he admitted to facing difficulties in uncovering radicalism in boarding schools.

"Al Mukmin boarding school in Ngruki, Central Java, and the one in Tanah Runtu, Palu, pleaded not to teach terrorism. So, we do not really want to say the potential for radicalism, but the fact actually hints to that aspect," he added. (WDY)