Indonesian presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo cross swords in first debate
- Prabowo downplayed the role of homegrown extremism in what analysts view to be a bid to cultivate himself as a defender of Islam in the run-up to the election
- Jokowi received flak for his claim of having no “past burdens” for human rights abuses
Indonesian presidential contender Prabowo Subianto on Thursday blamed terror attacks in the country on foreigners and said homegrown extremism was the result of Indonesians feeling economically marginalised, during a face-off with incumbent Joko Widodo in the first of five debates ahead of the April 17 presidential election.
Widodo and his No 2 pick, Muslim cleric Ma’ruf Amin, said the country will focus more to prevent extremism from taking root and double down on its efforts to deradicalise convicted militants.
Amin said deradicalisation programmes, which have been in place since 2002, needed to take into account the factors that led to radicalisation.
“If it was because of misunderstanding of religion, we will provide the right guidance for them to return to the right path,” said the 75-year-old Muslim clerk. “If it was because of economic reasons, we will provide them employment and economic assistance.”
Prabowo and his running mate, entrepreneur Sandiaga Uno, agreed that the country should continue with the deradicalisation programme, but the former general said the main source of terrorism came from “other countries”.
“I know very well terrorists were sent from other countries,” he said, citing his experience setting up Indonesia’s first anti-terror unit with Luhut Panjaitan, the current coordinating minister for maritime affairs and former commander of the elite special forces. “Terrorists are controlled by non-Muslims. I reject the notion that Muslims are terrorists.”