Akbar advises 'jihad' volunteers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Akbar Tandjung called on a Muslim
\norganization to cancel its plan to send trained warriors to
\nlaunch a jihad (holy war) in strife-torn Maluku.<\/p>\n
\"Sending men to Maluku will create a new problem. Let the
\ngovernment, local religious and informal leaders handle the
\nproblem,\" Akbar told reporters on Friday.<\/p>\n
Those wanting to help Maluku people should contribute in the
\nform of financial donations, he said.<\/p>\n
The group, Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Forum, rallied outside the
\nPresidential Palace on Thursday, many carrying swords and
\nmachetes, announcing their jihad plan unless the government
\nquickly resolved the Maluku conflict.<\/p>\n
The protesters said they were also offended by Abdurrahman's
\nremarks belittling the suffering of Muslims in Maluku.<\/p>\n
On Friday, some 100 members of the group led by its
\n\"commander\" Jaffar Umar Thalib visited People's Consultative
\nAssembly Chairman Amien Rais to discuss their plan.<\/p>\n
The forum plans to send 3,000 men to Maluku at the end of
\nApril. \"We will fight anyone trying to stop us,\" Jaffar said.<\/p>\n
Chairman Ayip Syafruddin said the group hoped to send 10,000
\npeople to Maluku eventually.<\/p>\n
The volunteers are being trained at a camp in Kayumanis,
\nBogor, by men with experience in the Afghanistan, Bosnia and Moro
\n(Philippines) wars, Ayip said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post found activities on Friday in a seven-hectare
\nfield in a valley reachable only after a three-kilometer walk.
\nSome 300 tents had been set up in the camp.<\/p>\n
Some volunteers were seen jogging while others learned martial
\narts.<\/p>\n
Hendro Tri Setiyono, a member of the special guard, said 3,150
\npeople were taking part in the first phase of program which began
\non April 6 and will end on April 16. They leave for Ambon on
\nApril 23, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Jihad does not mean war. The purpose of going to Maluku is to
\nprovide religious counseling and assistance to victims,\" he
\nsaid, underlining the fact that many of the participants were
\nmedical students.<\/p>\n
Police said they would not allow the jihad group members to
\nenter Maluku.<\/p>\n
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida declined
\nto say what actions police would take if the Muslim warriors
\nforced their way into Maluku.<\/p>\n
Police are also investigating the training camp in Bogor,
\nDadang was quoted by Satunet as saying.<\/p>\n
Dadang said the demonstrators had violated the law when they
\ncarried machetes and swords at Thursday's rally outside the
\npresidential palace. Police had already asked the group leaders
\nnot to carry the weapons, he said. (jun\/21)<\/p>",
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