Author Nur Amira Shafiqah binti Mohd Almizat
Nationality Malaysia
Posted on Tuesday, 23 04 2019
By
Letticia E Gomez
Jakarta: Barely six months of 2019 is
over but to-date, four major terrorist attacks have already taken place. From
the Maidan Shar attacks in Afghanistan to the recent Sri Lankan Easter bombings
have caused widespread terror and fear worldwide while the continual
displacement of Rohingya refugees and stateless individuals continue to cause
instability within the ASEAN region.
These attacks
and flocking number of displaced individuals further intensify the need for
stronger counter terrorism narratives, not only in countries plagued by war and
instability but in every country to combat the widespread ideologies that fuel
hate crimes and terrorism.
At the time of
ASEAN’s founding, in August 1967, Southeast Asia was deeply and severely
fractured in many ways and were determined to disentangle the ASEAN region from
the rivalries of the big powers and keep it from continuing to be an arena for
open or covert big-power conflict and promote peace and unity within the
region.
This singular
achievement may be attributed to ASEAN’s approach to the conduct of relations
among members, to the very character of the association. In its approach to
common goals and to issues that could lead to conflict, ASEAN places a premium
on dialogue and consultation in place of posturing and confrontation while its
cooperation in many other areas thickens the texture of regionalism and
strengthens the regional identity of Southeast Asia, a circumstance that, in
turn, increases the stake in regional peace and progress.
While many ASEAN
nations are actively involved in programs designed to counter violent extremism
and preventing terrorism within their respective countries, the Indonesian
National Counter Terrorism Agency (NCTA) in 2016 launched its first Youth
Ambassador for Peace Program to prevent terrorism and counter violent extremism
locally.
After three
successful editions of the program, the NCTA revamped the program by inviting
participants from ten ASEAN nations to participate in this initiative. The
Youth Ambassador for Peace brings together 120 young adults for a four day
intensive program for preventing terrorism and countering violent extremism
while fostering long lasting friendships among the youth of ASEAN nations while
propagating the growing networks of officials and private citizens across the
region that contribute to the mutual understanding and personal relationships
that help strengthen the regional peace.
The program
conducted in Discovery Hotel, Ancol advocates unity and cooperation among ASEAN
nations through group based activities and
in an effort to promote peace while countering violent extremism and
preventing terrorism in the region and aims to equip the participants to become
capable of producing their own counter terrorism narratives through writing,
graphic design and information technology while gaining useful insights and
guidance from experts in the field of counter terrorism.