Three terrorism convicts in Semarang prison pledge allegiance to Indonesia

Three convicts in terrorism cases at Semarang Prison, Central Java, declared their allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) on Friday. Head of the Correctional Services Division for Central Java, Hasan Basri, stated in Semarang that the three inmates are Somdani, Saryanto, and Mulyanto. The trio were previously members of Jamaah Islamiyah. Somdani is serving a four-year prison sentence, whilst Saryanto and Mulyanto are each serving six-year terms. Hasan said the pledge of allegiance to the NKRI is evidence of the success of the sustainable coaching and deradicalisation programme. ‘Their decision to return to the NKRI shows that the coaching process is running well and having a positive impact,’ he said. The deradicalisation programme at Semarang Prison, he continued, is the result of collaboration with the police’s Densus 88 counter-terrorism unit, the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He expressed hope that the decision to pledge loyalty to the NKRI would be followed by maintaining a positive social environment and becoming better individuals after reintegrating into society.