Indonesia's De-Radicalization Blueprint

The picture of Sunakim (alias Afif) reloading his gun while maneuvering with an expression of menacing intent will be an enduring image of the Jakarta attack in mid-January.

Having served five years of a seven-year sentence for attending a jihadi training camp in northern Sumatra in 2010, the West Java native was released from prison less than six months before his involvement in the deadly assault in Central Jakarta.

Remissions for good behavior are common in the Indonesian justice system, though according to a former prison-mate, Afif had pledged allegiance to ISIS, refused to participate in prison programs (including communal prayer sessions) and was known to have struggled with anger issues.

This failure to recognize warning signs has put a spotlight on Indonesia's efforts to manage convicted extremists and the government's recently announced that it plans to boost funding for so-called prison-based 'de-radicalization' programs. But where are existing efforts focused, and how would extra resources best be spent?

The Blueprint

Initiatives to engage with incarcerated extremists have been operating ad hoc for over a decade in Indonesia, though the first attempt to institutionalize a project came in 2013, when the national De-radicalization Blueprint was published by the National Counterterrorism Agency (Badan Nasional Penaggulangan Terorisme, BNPT).

The 122-page booklet outlined the agency's strategy for reforming prisoners convicted of terrorism-related offences, and presented the task as an ideological struggle with a strategy incorporating four stages. 

First, the identification phase is meant to involve collecting data and determining each prisoner's level of ideological commitment. This is followed by a process of rehabilitation, which aims to "develop moderate understandings and attitudes" among prisoners and their families, so they "become inclusive, peaceful, and tolerant" citizens. 

The somewhat Orwellian sounding re-education stage is next and seeks "transformations of thought, understanding and attitudes," yet the description of the process is largely identical to that of the rehabilitation stage. 

Finally, re-socialization aims to reintegrate prisoners with society upon the completion of their sentence, which also comprises lengthy duplications from the previous two stages, but highlights the need to involve communities to "remove suspicion and fear on one hand and develop empathy and mutual respect on the other hand."

Arguing Away ideology

The Blueprint suggests the inclusion of vocational training and the promotion of personal development, but the priority appears firmly placed on a "persuasive approach" whereby "discussion and dialogue" attempt to alter the mind-set of prisoners. 

Yet research has shown processes of radicalization are wide-ranging and involve social and emotional forces that are often antecedent to the adoption of an ideological framework, which in many cases is only partially understood anyway.

Factors such as the pursuit of status or personal significance, the camaraderie of belonging to an underground network, the desire for revenge or adventure, and the adolescent development of identity have all been identified as recurring themes. Ideology may facilitate these processes, but it's not necessarily the source of motivation for initial involvement. 

A problem with targeting ideology during interventions is the likelihood of backlash. Kurt Braddock has drawn upon Psychological Reactance Theory (first developed by Jack Brehm in the 1960s) to describe how persuasion-based de-radicalization efforts can prove counterproductive, as participants may entrench their positions in the face of a threat to their perceived autonomy. 

Changing Behavior

Instead of challenging ideas, some practitioners endorse approaches centered on behavior. Such interventions are seen as more likely to bring positive change because they focus on practical issues such as promoting constructive life goals and reducing negative emotions. 

One respondent in a study conducted last year by Zora Sukabdi on rehabilitating extremists in Indonesian prisons appeared to support this theory: "Changing our heart and love for Allah and jihad is impossible, but changing our behaviour so we stop bombing is possible, in fact we can."

Personalized Projects and Effective Management

Interventions need to be targeted appropriately to make this approach effective. The 2013 Blueprint stated that its identification phase sought to pinpoint the individual circumstance of each prisoner, yet the little available information about how programs are actually run suggests that broad-brush strokes have been applied more often than personalized engagement.

This point was even raised by a participant in Sukabdi's research: ". . . the brothers cannot be all counseled in the same way. We are all different . . . It is ridiculous that all brothers are ask [sic] to be waiters or cooks, it does not match their talent, it is a waste of money."

Source: Indonesia's De-Radicalization Blueprint

Jakarta police questions hani over mirna`s death

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Metro Jaya Police investigators questioned Hanie Juwita Boon for almost 12 hours as a witness in the Wayan Mirna Salihin murder case.

Wayan Mirna Salihin, alias Mirna, died after drinking iced coffee allegedly laced with cyanide at the Olivier restaurant in the Grand Indonesia Mall on January 6, 2016.

"I am exhausted after answering so many questions," Hani informed journalists after being grilled from 1:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday to 12:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. Accompanied by a man, Hani left the police office in a car bearing the license plate number: B-1872 SJI.

The police investigators raised 47 questions regarding the death of the 27-year-old woman. The police have named Jessica Kumala Wongso (27) a suspect in the murder case.

The Metro Jaya Police had arrested Jessica on Saturday morning (Jan. 30) from the hotel where she was staying after the police found her house empty. Mirna, Jessica, and Hani had met that day in th e cafe. They had previously studied together in Australia.

(Reported by Taufik Ridwan/Uu.R013/INE/KR-BSR/F001)

Source: Jakarta police questions hani over mirna`s death

Universitas Indonesia’s Partnership with North Korea

The cooperation in education sector could show that Indonesia does not believe in isolating any country, including North Korea, and instead seek to replicate the same approach that it used in opening up Myanmar to the world.

Kim Il-sung University, Pyongyang. (Photo source: Wikimapia)

In-depth

Jakarta, GIVnews.com – In a piece of news that brought laughter and expressions of disbelief to many Indonesians, The Jakarta Post reported last Monday (25/01) that Universitas Indonesia (UI), one of Indonesia's three premier universities, have struck a partnership deal with the government of North Korea.

Representatives from the country, legally known as the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and from its university reportedly requested that UI open a new class which will be named in honor of North Korea's current 'Supreme Leader' Kim Jong-un.

"The North Korean government, including their universities, and UI have agreed to form a partnership. The partnership was made after their visits to UI. The demand for a special Kim Jong-un class is part of the agreement between the country's university and UI to carry out exchanges of students, staffs, and lecturers. We will examine all of their requests," said Nesti Rahayu, a staff in UI's International Office, to the Post.

This agreement looks to be the final step of a long process that went back to at least early 2015. In early May 2015, Nasri Gustaman, the ambassador of Indonesia to North Korea, stated that a lecturer exchange agreement between UI and the Kim Il-sung University is in the talks. Kim Il-sung University, named after the country's founding father, is the first and the best university in North Korea. So far, it is not clear what the benefits that UI or Indonesia will reap from the agreement are.

A month after that, UI received a formal delegation from North Korea's government and Kim Il-sung University. According to UI's website, the delegation came as a reciprocal visit to UI lecturers' attendance in a national economic seminar held in North Korea in 2013. In the meeting, the Korean representative invited UI to conduct another visit in the coming years and talked about the possibility of conducting exchange programs with UI's Faculty of Economics and Business.

Universitas Indonesia's main campus in Depok, South of Jakarta. (Photo source: UI Facebook page)

The news has attracted mixed responses from Indonesians, although many people just laughed it off. Here are some comments from Indonesians in the web:

"What's the purpose of UI opening a Kim Jong-un class? There is no benefit… If the exchange program is held with South Korean students then there's no problem, but it's North Koreans. A country which until [2016] still doesn't have public phones and Internet," commented user kodok.istana in Kaskus, a popular online forum in Indonesia.

"I think it is alright. As long as North Korea is prepared for the variety of undergraduate's perspectives. After all, other Communist thinkers are also comprehensively discussed in Western Political Thoughts class (and Asian ones too)," commented user skyrio, also in Kaskus.

In the comments section of the original Jakarta Post article, Robert J. Cochrane stated, "Perhaps Minister Nasir (Indonesia's Minister of Research and Higher Education – ed.) would be better off sorting out this embarrassing fiasco which will damage UI's reputation than criticizing LGBT Study Groups on campus," referring to Nasir's latest statement regarding the presence of an LGBT-related group in UI.

(Read more: The LGBT Stigma in Indonesia)

Meanwhile, among other nations of the world, Indonesia has always enjoyed a unique relationship with North Korea. Indonesia is one of just a handful of countries which maintains a bilateral diplomatic relationship with the DPRK, with both countries opening embassies on one another's land.

The friendship blossomed especially during the reign of President Soekarno and Kim Il-sung in the sixties, when North Korea participated in the Indonesia-led Asian-African Conference and the Non-Block Movement. Soekarno even honored Kim Il-sung by naming a species of orchid from Makassar as Kimilsungia, declaring it as an eternal symbol of friendship between the two states.

In the more recent era, multiple visits by leaders from both countries are also conducted. Then-President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Soekarno's daughter, went to Pyongyang in 2002. The Speaker of DPRK's legislative house, Kim Yong-nam, visited Indonesia in 2002, 2005, and 2012. DPRK's government also maintains a restaurant called "Pyongyang" in Jakarta, which offers authentic North Korean food and dining experience.

While Indonesia has repeatedly expressed its disagreement with North Korea's human rights aggressions and nuclear tests, Indonesia believes in the method of dialogue to deal with the differences between North Korea and the rest of the globe. Indonesia does not believe in isolating any country, including North Korea, and instead seek to replicate the same approach that it used in opening up Myanmar to the world.

Source: Universitas Indonesia's Partnership with North Korea

Indonesian tourist visa fee set to be scrapped for Australians

The $49 visa fee Australian tourists have to pay before entering Indonesia looks set to be finally scrapped after years of the Indonesian Government flip-flopping on the policy.

Sunrise in Bali, a destination which is set to become cheaper for Australians with the Indonesian government's plan to scrap visa fees. Photo: Peter Riches

The Ayana resort, one of Bali's premier hotels. Photo: Supplied

Grand Nikko Bali hotel, in Nusa Dua. Photo: Supplied

exit

Jakarta: The US$35 ($49) visa fee Australian tourists must pay before entering Indonesia looks set to be finally scrapped after years of the Indonesian Government flip-flopping on the policy.

Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs spokesman Djoko Hartoyo told Fairfax Media that Australia will be one of 79 new countries to be granted free one-month tourist visas.

On three previous occasions Australia has been included in such a group, only to be withdrawn for political reasons or because Australia did not offer Indonesian tourists reciprocal visa arrangements.

But Mr Hartoyo said this time Indonesia had not demanded anything in return.

"We are doing it simply because we want more Australian tourists coming to Indonesia. It is true that the Government is receiving less from people entering Indonesia, but what the people can get in return [from tourism] is much bigger".

He said he hoped the policy would be signed by President Joko Widodo this week.

In March last year, amid high tensions over the executions of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, Indonesia removed Australia from a group of 45 countries whose tourist visa fees would be waived, blaming a lack of reciprocal arrangements.

In September, the Indonesian tourism minister again promised Australians would be granted free visa access, before leaving them out of the policy that began on October 1.

Indonesia has previously requested Australia grant long-term visas for officials at the level of director and above, visas for business and tighter security regarding drugs.

In November last year Australia announced a visa improvement for Indonesians, with a three-year multiple entry visa and online applications.

Nearly 10 million tourists visit Indonesia annually, with the majority visiting Bali.

Of the 3.6 million visits to Bali between January and November 2015, Australians topped the list with 876,748 visitors.

The announcement adds to the 90 countries that already receive free visa access, and comes as part of Indonesia's plan to attract 20 million foreign tourists annually by 2019.

A spokesperson for Air Asia told Fairfax Media the airline hopes the policy will result in more Australians travelling to Indonesia.

It is also understood other major airlines such as Jetstar will welcome the move to reduce costs for Australian travellers.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement it had not yet received any information from the Indonesian Government about the announcement.

With Karuni Rompies

The story Indonesian tourist visa fee set to be scrapped for Australians first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: Indonesian tourist visa fee set to be scrapped for Australians

Aussie diagnosed with Zika after Bali monkey bite, experts warn of missed cases

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The fast-spreading Zika virus is likely being under-diagnosed in South-East Asia, infectious disease experts have warned in several reports, including that of an Australian who was infected after a monkey bite in Bali.

The virus, which is being investigated for links to potentially fatal defects in unborn babies in South America, is believed to have been transmitted primarily by mosquitos, with only rare reports of exceptions.

But the authors of a report into the case of a 27-year-old Australian man last year have proposed that a monkey bite he received at the Ubud Monkey Forest could have been to blame.

Tame monkeys roam freely at Ubud Monkey Forest in Bali. Photo: AP

The man was diagnosed with acute Zika virus after arriving at the Royal Darwin Hospital with fever and a rash seven days after the bite, the report states. He'd also been bitten by mosquitos while holidaying in Bali.

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The authors of the report, including doctors from the hospital and academics from the Victorian Diseases Reference Laboratory and the Menzies School of Health Research, wrote that while mosquito-borne transmission was possible,the monkey was a plausible route of transmission.

They also noted the virus has similar symptoms to other viruses, such as dengue fever, and the limited availability of the test to detect Zika virus in Indonesia.

"Transmission of Zika virus by monkey bite or other (non-mosquito) routes, and attribution of illness to dengue or other infections, may be more frequent than the absence of prior reports suggests," says the report, published in the Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health in May 2015.

Meanwhile, researchers studying an outbreak of dengue fever at Jambi Province in central Sumatra in early 2015 also pointed out the possibility Zika was being under-diagnosed due to similarities with the common symptoms of other diseases.

While the recent links between Zika and birth defects is causing alarm, experts say 80 per cent of people do not experience sickness when they get the virus. When people are affected, the symptoms are usually mild and include a rash and fever. Most people clear the virus from their blood within a week. 

They had stumbled on a 27-year local man who contracted the disease despite having never travelled outside of Indonesia. A report into the case was this week uploaded to the Eijkman​ Institute for Molecular Biology Indonesia's website ahead of publication in a Centre for Disease Control journal in May.

Frilasita Aisyah Yudhaputri​ from the institute's virus research unit said while the virus was believed to have existed in Indonesia for some time, the Asian strain of Zika was "mild" and not believed to cause birth defects.

"The one we found is the Asian strain, … the same found in Thailand, the Philippines and Cambodia.It is not the one related to microcephaly (a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development.)," she said.

A 2013 report into a previously healthy 52-year-old Australian woman who returned home from Jakarta with Zika misdiagnosed as Dengue also suggested it is possible many cases were being missed.

The report said that at the time, this was the first case of a Zika virus infection reported in a returned traveller to Australia although evidence of the virus had been reported in Java, Indonesia.

"However it is likely that many cases are either undiagnosed (because of mild symptoms) or misdiagnosed, presumably most commonly as dengue fever, given their clinical similarities," the report in the  American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene stated.

Dr Mike Catton, from the Doherty Institute's Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, said it was difficult to know whether Zika was being under-diagnosed in Indonesia but said he believed it was unlikely that a "large outbreak" like that being experienced in South America could be overlooked.

He said of 1500 Australians the institute had tested after returning from overseas with an illness, only seven tested positive for Zika since 2012.

"I think that testing is likely to be picking up Zika if it's there in Australian return travellers," he said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not adjusted its travel advice for Indonesia because the transmission of the virus is not considered to be "ongoing" there, a spokeswoman said.

Source: Aussie diagnosed with Zika after Bali monkey bite, experts warn of missed cases