Jakarta, NU Online
Following the terrorism-linked incidents of past weeks, the government said on Monday that it had begun a comprehensive, multi-institutional deradicalization program to combat terrorism.<>

As part of the program, Vice President Boediono led a high-level meeting at his office before coming up with the “National Radical Terrorism Counter Programs” blueprint.

“This is not merely a reaction to recent bombings in Depok or shootings in Surakarta. This was a national program initiated by the National Counterterrorism Agency [BNPT] some time ago,” Boediono said upon opening the meeting which was then held behind closed doors.

Boediono didn’t specify exactly what he meant by “deradicalization program”, but a controversial policy to certify and register all clerics is certain to be at the heart of the plan.

The policy hopes to gag radical religious leaders who promote civil unrest.

BNPT chief Ansyaad Mbai denied responsibility for the certification scheme, saying the idea was unsuitable and unworkable in Indonesia. “I only cited the example of certification of clerics in Singapore,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Sensing potential trouble ahead, he asked the media not to overly expose the proposal in case it was “exploited by radical groups to undermine antiterrorism efforts”.

“We need to involve the clerics. They have key roles in this program,” Ansyaad said as quoted by The Jakarta Post.

“Clerics know how religious doctrines can be used to radicalize students. They also understand indoctrination,” the retired police general explained.

Ansyaad’s statement on clerical certification ignited almost universal rejection from Islamic leaders, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) general chairman KH Said Aqil Siroj and Muslim scholars.

Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq