The rise in gangsterism and the weakness of state function |

Thuggery has become increasingly worrying in several cities in Indonesia lately. President Prabowo Subianto has even formed a task force to eradicate thugs. Police in several cities, including North Aceh, have acted quickly and have arrested several suspected thugs.

The arrest of suspected thugs should not be a surprise action just because it is viral. In several cases that have been revealed, there were thugs disguised as illegal parking attendants who asked the public for tens or even hundreds of thousands of rupiah.

We support the police's quick action. However, the actions of these thugs have been very disturbing to the public. Their actions have caused social fear that has made people uncomfortable even in the places where they were born and raised.

In addition to the thugs who are roaming around, there are also thugs in uniform who wear the clothes of community organizations. They extort money from the public and investors so that in several cases, investors are reluctant to enter Indonesia. In Aceh, the practice of extorting investors also often occurs, especially in the name of certain organizations. When they are not obeyed, their safety is at stake.

These uniformed thugs are more dangerous than solo thugs, although thuggery in all forms must be rejected, whether in uniform or not. Uniformed thugs extort billions, thus having a wide impact on the regional and national economy.

The presence of thugs carries a strong message, the weak presence of the state in terms of social and economic security. The role of the state has been taken over by thugs in various aspects.

Australian academic, Ian Douglas Wilson, said that the presence of thugs is a reflection of the state's failure to carry out its basic functions, namely to protect, regulate, and create justice.

Figures like Hercules, Wilson called power brokers who emerged due to the absence of formal authority. He is a "broker of violence" in a crippled democratic system, a place where the law is unable to reach the dark alleys of this republic.

Wilson's research on thugs is discussed in the book The Politics of Protection Rackets in Post New Order Indonesia which is translated as Politik Jatah Thug. A lecturer at Murdoch University, figures like Hercules understand very well how to use fear as a social currency.

The police, including the Aceh Police through the Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Joko Krisdiyanto, appealed to the public not to hesitate to call the 110 Call Center for 24 hours to report acts of thuggery. The normative appeal is not extraordinary news because the solution has always been the same. Without real and continuous action, even when it is not viral, the public will find it difficult to believe.

So far, the government has seemed reactive. Actions are only taken when a case has become a social topic, including in the eradication of thuggery. After this, there was another bigger case and the eradication of thuggery passed in silence.

The presence of the state is needed in all conditions. This awareness should have taken root in every civil servant so that their policies are forever to protect, regulate, and create social justice.[]