The National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) is training local security officers and community leaders in Banten Province on August 19–21 as part of a broader strategy to combat extremist ideologies, a BNPT officer said.
Speaking here Friday, BNPT's Deputy for Enforcement and Capacity Building Police Inspector General Faizal Thayeb said the training village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa), community police officers (Bhabinkamtibmas), and village heads.
"The main focus of the capacity building is to face the threat of radicalism, terrorism, which targets children and youth from online platforms," Thayeb remarked.
He informed that radicalism persists in cyberspace, so it can be dangerous when it is aimed at children and youth. Hence, it necessitates the training, so as to eliminate the risks, he noted.
The unstable geopolitical situation can also put national security at risk, he noted, thus intervention from the public order personnel and village leaders is crucial to reinforce national defense from the ground up.
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"Global conditions also play a part (in the spread of radicalism), which is why we have to always strengthen from (down below)," he noted.
Thayeb stated that these aspects of the village are crucial in establishing the people's awareness in terrorism prevention, apart from the willingness of people themselves to defend themselves.
One trainee from Saruni Village, Pandeglang District, Banten, Hasan Slamet, said that the training is relevant, as it enables him to understand early prevention measures and how to address radicalism.
Slamet is committed to strengthening coordination between the community order personnel and village leaders, as well as educating people consistently about these measures.
According to him, education is a vital part of radicalism prevention, hence village administrators and units will also be informed of this knowledge.
In the training, the participants are taught about the basics of radicalism and terrorism, the development of terroristic acts, and the early detection and prevention of radicalism and terrorism.
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Translator: Agatha Olivia Victoria, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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