TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dian Yuli Novi, the women suicide bomber arrested in Bekasi, is suspected to join a terrorist network because of poverty. Watma, Chief of the Bakung Lor village in Cirebon, Watma said that "Novi's father is currently paralyzed."
Watma added that Novi's father Asnawi (50) is working as a tire repairman. "[He] set up shop at his house," Watma explained. Meanwhile, Novi's mother, Dunyatin (47), work as a snack vendor and door-to-door used clothes saleswoman.
Novi later chose to work as a migrant worker. "She once applied for a migrant worker permit to village officials," Watma said. Novi then travelled to Taiwan in 2013, and become the main financial supporter of her family. "Four of Novi's younger brothers are students," Watma added.
According to Watma, Novi started to wear burqa since she came back from Taiwan in 2016. "But she never pray at the mosque with other villagers," Watma revealed.
Watma added that Novi ran away from her house a few months after returning to Indonesia. "We then received information that she worked as a teacher somewhere," Watma said.
The villagers only knew about Novi’s whereabouts after the news of her arrest was broadcasted across the country. Watma tried to hide the news from reaching the family. "I didn't have the heart [to tell her family], [Novi's father] health would further decline," Watma explained.
Despite Watma's effort to hide the news, Asnawi managed to find out about his daughter's arrest. "The family even apologized to [the local] residents," Watma explained.
IVANSYAH