The younger generation is the vanguard who will bring Indonesia to be a safe, peaceful, advanced, and prosperous nation.Jakarta (ANTARA) - Brigadier General R. Ahmad Nurwakhid, Director of Prevention of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), encouraged all Indonesian youths to express their support for anti-radicalism and anti-terrorism movements. In his statement on Thursday, he noted many radical groups are still trying to spread their radical ideas within the community, noting the recruitment of 59 people, who are mostly youngsters, in Garut District, West Java Province, and about 30 people in South Lampung, Lampung Province by the Indonesian Islamic State (NII).
In addition, there were also a number of other radical groups that include Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD).
According to Brigadier General Nurwakhid, the actions and ideology of the radical groups are contrary to the nation’s four consensus, which are Pancasila (Indonesia’s state ideology), the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Indonesia’s motto which means Unity in Diversity), and Republic of Indonesia as the nation’s form of government.
Therefore, on the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day, he stressed his party aims to foster and raise the spirits of Indonesian youths, hoping they can lead in creating national harmony.
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Indonesia has a very rich, diverse, and heterogeneous culture, therefore, it must be maintained with unity, tolerance, and harmony to realize Golden Indonesia by 2045, a vision of Indonesia as an advanced, fair and prosperous country, he added.
"The younger generation is the vanguard who will make Indonesia a safe, peaceful, advanced and prosperous nation," he remarked.
Nurwakhid reminded the youth to be vigilant of the radicalism and terrorism, as these ideologies are anti-Pancasila and work against the unity and diversity of Indonesia.
The government has banned the HTI and JAD, which were mass organizations, however their ideologies remain, he further added, affirming young generations must be given ideological “reinforcement” through religious understanding and national insight.
"We must make younger generations more tolerant, respectful of diversity, and committed to the national unity and consensus," he said.
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Translator: Arief Iskandar, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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