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Indoctrination and Brainwashing Process in the Case of Terrorism: a Psychological Analysis of Suicide Bombing in Surabaya, East Java

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Indoctrination and Brainwashing Process in the Case of Terrorism: a Psychological Analysis of Suicide Bombing in Surabaya, East Java INDOCTRINATION AND BRAINWASHING PROCESS IN THE CASE OF TERRORISM: A PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF SUICIDE BOMBING IN SURABAYA, EAST JAVA Mohammad Takdir Institut Ilmu Keislaman Annuqayah Guluk-Guluk Sumenep Guluk-Guluk Sumenep, Madura, Indonesia, E-mail: [email protected] Received Revised Approved 12/04/2020 27/06/2020 30/06/2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32332/akademika.v25i1.1990 Indoctrination and Brainwashing Process in the Case of Terrorism: A Psychological Analysis of Family Suicide Bombing in Surabaya, East Java Licensed Under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License Abstract This paper analyses the process of indoctrination and brainwashing in the case of terrorism. This study uses a psychological approach to uncover the suicide bombing case in Surabaya which has happened in Mei 2018. By using a case study, this research effort to understand deeply the psychological phenomenon that encourages terrorists to invite their families like suicide bombers. This research shows that the indoctrination process is done by giving video on jihad. This indoctrination process is an important stage in the cultivation of radical ideologies through pre- radicalization, self-identification, and jihadization. In this study, it was found that there are some stages of brainwashing for suicide bombers, namely the recruitment process, the indoctrination stage, and the isolation to do an attack of suicide bombing. Key Word: Brainwashing, Indoctrination, Suicide Bombing, Terrorism 2 AKADEMIKA, Vol. 25, No. 01 Januari–Juni 2020 A. Introduction The acts of terrorism in several regions made people more worried and afraid of the threat of radical movements that did not recognize territorial boundaries or geographical locations. In Indonesia, acts of terrorism through suicide bombings have become a tool practiced by terrorists in justifying the religious doctrine. Today, suicide bombing is a very aggressive form of terrorism in the dynamics of people’s lives. In the case of terrorism, terrorists use religious doctrine to justify suicide bombing actions as a way towards heaven.1 The suicide bombing is part of a radical movement that became a threat to the peace and security of the people.2 In Indonesia, suicide bombings are carried out in the name of defending religion. In many places, terrorism networks are indeed paralyzed by Detachment 88, but terrorist cadres are still hanging around building new networks that are more organized. For example, the suicide bomb explosion that occurred in Surabaya on May 2018, reflected a network that was so neat and well- organized that the police were unable to detect suicide bomb planning that killed many victims at three churches in Surabaya. In the case of a suicide bombing in Surabaya, it was carried out with an attack plan and strategy that was in line with the target.3 It shows a new trend in the jihadist movement with very mature planning an attack operation. Moreover, the new model in the development trend of terrorism in Surabaya involves kinship or family networks, including the involvement of his wife and children. The terrorism movement does need careful and organized planning. Habits and target movements (objects) must be observed. On the other hand, operational techniques of weaponry or bombs must be fully mastered by the perpetrators to make it easier to carry out their actions on the ground.4 It is almost certain that terrorist 1 Robert A. Pape, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism (New York: Random House Trade Paperbacks, 2006), 231. 2 Robert J. Brym dan Bader Araj, “Suicide Bombings as Strategy and Interaction: The Case of the Second Intifida,” Social Forces 84, no. 4 (2006): 230. 3 Kirsten E. Schulze, “The Surabaya Bombings and the Evolution of The Jihadi Threat in Indonesia,” Combating Terrorism Center 11, no. 6 (2018): 12–15. 4 Lloyd Pettifor dan David Holding, Terrorism: The New World War (Bookmart Limited, 2003), 134. Indoctrination and Brainwashing Process… . 3 movements in Indonesia are always well planned so it is very difficult to be identified before a suicide bombing. The acts of terrorism in Surabaya became clear evidence of the dangers of radical movements that continue to threaten the peace and peace of the people. Moreover, terrorism as a radical movement has a very strong network in producing militant cadres who are ready to become “brides of heaven”.5 The terrorists’ ingenuity in building networks makes the police must always be prepared to anticipate indications of suicide bombings in various regions in Indonesia. Researchers took the example of a suicide bombing carried out by one family in Surabaya in three places at the same time. Three acts of terrorism in Surabaya carried out by one family involving women and children are a new phenomenon that could be the first in the world. Based on family photos circulating on various social media, they appear to be a normal family and even come from the middle class.6 This indicates that the development trend of terrorism has increased very significantly along with many new modes practiced by terrorists. The Surabaya bombing case is evidence of how the family has a strategic position in each series of acts of terrorism? Previously, the suicide bombing was carried out by a single perpetrator, but now there has been a very significant paradigm shift in the pattern of attacks and family involvement. As it is known that Surabaya suicide bombings in three churches were carried out by one family, namely Dita Oeprianto (father), his wife, and four children. The first bomb attack occurred at the Church of Santa Maria Tanpa Bercela carried out by the oldest and second oldest child. The second bomb attack occurred at the Indonesian Christian Church with a mother with two children who blew themselves up, fifteen minutes after the first bomb attack. And the third bomb was carried out by 5 V.G. Julie Rajan, Women Suicide Bombers: Narrative of Violence (New York: Routledge, 2011), 225. 6 Noor Huda Ismail, “Ideologi Kematian Keluarga Teroris,” CNN Indonesia (blog), Mei 2015, https://m.cnniindonesia.com/nasional/20180515. 4 AKADEMIKA, Vol. 25, No. 01 Januari–Juni 2020 Dita by driving a car that was detonated in Pentakosta Church, forty-five minutes after the second bomb.7 Symptoms of the emergence of terrorism along with a series of actions carried out, including suicide bombings in Surabaya, have three important elements that influence acts of terrorism. First, the ideology of terrorism. This ideology occupies an important position because one cannot possibly carry out suicide bombings without being based on a strong ideology. Second, terrorist organizations that are developing rapidly in various parts of the world, thus affecting the intensity of acts of terrorism that occur in society. Third, it relates to the recruitment patterns of terrorist members who are increasingly massive and well-organized. The difference in recruitment patterns is one strategy to get a heaven bride who is indoctrinated by lucrative teaching.8 The fertility of the radical movement can indeed be seen from many factors as above, but this research only focuses on the psychological perspective that seeks to find out the motivations that can get a person involved in acts of terrorism. In Sarlito Wirawan’s research, it was stated that initially a group of people merely went along (without knowing what happened) to carry out extreme jihad that was willing to sacrifice their souls in the name of the truth they believed. Apart from differences in motivation found in a person, there are similarities between the perpetrators. One of them wants to improve the situation that they consider unfair and not in line with Islamic teachings.9 The suicide bombing case in Surabaya showed a change in the strategy of the attack carried out by terrorist groups by making the family network a deadly weapon. Recruitment of women in terrorism cases is considered to have a strategic role to be active in the activities of terrorist organizations.10 Acts of terrorism involving this family network certainly 7 Rindha Widyaningsih, “Family Suicide Bombing: A Psychological Analysis of Contemporary Terrorism,” Walisongo: Jurnal Penelitian Sosial Keagamaan 16, no. 2 (2018): 295–320. 8 A.H. Hendropriyono, Terorisme: Fundamentalisme Kristen, Islam, dan Yahudi (Jakarta: Kompas, 2009), 23. 9 Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono, Terorisme di Indonesia; dalam Tinjauan Psikologi (Jakarta: Pustaka Alvabet, 2012), 123. 10 Katharina Von Knop, “The Female Jihad: Al-Qaedah’s Women,” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism 30, no. 5 (2007): 397–414. Indoctrination and Brainwashing Process… . 5 cannot be separated from the process of brainwashing that is carried out massively against the brain and thoughts of terrorists in Surabaya. From the background, this study seeks to uncover the process of indoctrination of terrorist wives and children in providing confidence that the ideology of death with a suicide bomb will deliver ultimate happiness by becoming a bride of heaven. Therefore, this research also trying to understand how the stages of brainwashing carried out by terrorists against their wives, children, and those family to them so that they do not have awareness in carrying out acts of terrorism through suicide bombings. B. Chronology, Profile, and Motives of Terrorism This section describes cases of terrorism in East Java that took place in three different Church locations at almost the same time in May 2018. This terrorism case in East Java became the largest case that took a lot of attention from various groups, ranging from the government, academics, religious leaders, and society in general. There are several reasons why the terrorism case in Surabaya has drawn a lot of attention and is highlighted as a human tragedy that has caused many victims. First, the terrorism case in Surabaya is carried out by one family with a suicide bombing at almost the same time. Second, terrorism cases involve women as the main driver to carry out terrorist acts and involve children as part of jihad.
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