A Community-based Early Warning Institution LKDM formed in the village of Gemblegan

Monday (1/28), the WISE Engagement team in collaboration with the village government and representatives of the women's groups held an event to establish a Community-based Early Warning Institution (LKDM) in Gemblegan Village, Kalikotes District, Klaten Regency, Central Java. As an embodiment of the Peace Village development, the early warning system is one of the factors that must be fostered. For this reason, the LKDM was formed as an initial response to empowering peace in the village.

There were around 50 people attended this event consisting of district and sub-district Community Early Warning Forums (FKDM), community and religious leaders, and women's representatives. This event was aimed to promote an early warning system, to provide a workshop on the early warning implementation guide, and to build an early warning team.

Several speakers were present coming from the Jakarta National and Political Unity Office (Kesbangpol), kelurahan office, sub-district office, the village supervisory non-commissioned officers (Babinsa) and the police’s village-level security and public order advisors (Bhabinkamtibmas). The topic of the discussion included the introduction to the systems of early warning and response to conflicts, intolerance, and issues of radicalism in community. "Residents are expected to  have the capability to maintain peace and harmony and sort out conflicts/issues of intolerance and triggers of radicalism, which can be reported or resolved at the village level without the need to report to the sub-district forum," explained Tri (41) from the Cahaya Kencana Group, who attended the event.

According to the Minister of Home Affairs, the FKDM is only available up to the sub-district level. Thus, at the village level, specifically in Gemblegan Village, we named this forum the Community-Based Early Warning Institution (LKDM). Gemblegan Village is still the only village in Klaten Regency that has this institution. The establishment of LKDM is crucial and it is hoped that Gemblegan can become an example for other villages.

In that meeting, a village LKDM team was formed with 6 members consisting of community leaders, religious leaders, village officials, and women from the Wahid Foundation assisted women’s groups. Some of the tasks of the village LKDM are to receive information, analyze information, solve problems and respond to problems and signs that may cause conflicts.

The rise of motorcycle gangs of middle school students in Gemblegan Village was also a discussion topic in the meeting. In the discussion, the Babinsa team stated that this problem was actually a family issue. "By taking a family-centered approach, which is returning the problem (and solution) to their families, such as restrictions on when children can ride motorbikes to school and strict rules on the use of motorbike made by their parents, may alleviate the problem of motorcycle gangs," explained Huda from the Babinsa team.

At the same moment, Gus Jazuli, the Advisor of the Wahid Foundation also expressed his hope, "Hopefully this LKDM can be a very meaningful place for the village of Gemblegan so that villagers can channel their complaints through this institution. Then it can also be a means to empower residents in many fields, such as social, cultural, educational, agricultural, economic and political,” said Gus.

By: Ester Pandiangan