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UNAIR NEWS – Acts of thuggery under the guise of mass organizations (ormas) remains a persistent issue in Indonesian society. While this may appear to be a recent development, such groups actually gained traction during the New Order era, when they were often formed to serve the political agendas of select elites.

Today, these organizations continue to thrive, fostering criminality and disrupting social cohesion. Dr. Aribowo, Drs., M.S., a Political Science lecturer at ������ (UNAIR), weighed in on the phenomenon, pointing to a variety of structural factors that enable these ormas with strong ties to street-level crime.

Scarcity of employment opportunities

Ormas often operate in informal—and at times illegal—economic sectors. They are frequently found extorting money from small businesses and even large corporations. “The government has failed to provide adequate employment opportunities. At the same time, it lacks the creativity and infrastructure to support those in need,” Aribowo explained.

He cited street vendors operating on sidewalks as an example, which not only contributes to traffic congestion but also leads to public perception issues. As a result, economically disadvantaged groups are often unfairly blamed by the more affluent for urban disorder.

Aribowo emphasized that the government must take a more proactive role in economic planning by engaging marginalized communities. Doing so would help ensure a more equitable distribution of economic resources. According to him, improving public education, vocational training, and access to legitimate jobs is essential to steer citizens away from illegal livelihoods.

Confronting rogue mass organizations

In the past, the government was suspected of using extrajudicial methods—such as the infamous petrus (mysterious shootings)—to suppress groups seen as threats to public security. However, Aribowo stressed that such approaches are unacceptable and violate human rights in a democratic society.

“The state possesses the authority, resources, and tools to act. It is more than capable of dealing with these organizations,” he said. At the same time, Ari acknowledged that dismantling rogue ormas is no simple task—especially when they are backed by political elites. It is widely understood, he added, that some officials enable these groups for personal or political gain.

Aribowo called on the public to be vigilant—not only toward the actions of ormas but also toward the government’s complicity or inaction in addressing them. “Citizens must not tolerate the presence of groups that blatantly break the law,” he concluded.

Author: Afifah Alfina

Editor: Yulia Rohmawati