‘Ideological Conflicts’ Between the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian Muslim Radicals

Abstract

As in other many countries, Indonesia has recently suffered the dangerous scourge of terrorism. What the Indonesian government considers to be radicals are Muslim mujahidin (fighters) who could use violence to achieve their objectives (not all of them commit acts of violence). The government often calls them ‘terrorists’ (a term which has become highly discredited in the Indonesian media and worldwide). These also include those who aid them, or withhold information about them. A major method employed by the government to curb terrorism has been the establishment of the so-called 'deradicalisation' and ‘counter-radicalisation’ (preventing people from becoming radical) programmes organized by its anti-terrorism agency known as BNPT.