Jamaah Islamiyah exists in Indonesia, research reveals<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
A study of terrorist network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) has concluded
\nthat the network is an international one that includes Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Director of the Yogyakarta-based Siyasa Research Institute
\n(SR-Ins) Agus Maftuh Abegeriel, said the 18-month study showed
\nthat the JI did not recognize the territorial borders of nations.<\/p>\n
\"Although many still doubt the existence of the organization,
\nit (the JI) does exist (in Indonesia) and is real and tangible,\"
\nAgus said early this week.<\/p>\n
While police authorities have blamed the JI for terrorist
\nattacks in the country since 2000, the government has
\nconsistently denied the existence of the JI in the world's
\nlargest Muslim nation.<\/p>\n
The Bali bombings on Oct. 12, 2002, in which 202 people were
\nkilled, and the J.W. Marriot Hotel attack, which claimed 12
\nlives, have both been blamed on the JI.<\/p>\n
Agus, who is also a lecturer of Islamic Studies at the Sunan
\nKalijaga State Islamic Institute (IAIN), said the network's
\nmovements were precise and extremely well-organized.
\n The General Guidelines of Jamaah Islamiyah's Struggle (PUPJI)
\ndetailed its goals, targets, and strategies in establishing a
\nglobal Islamic leadership or khilafah,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Agus, however, declined to reveal individuals or institutions
\naffiliated with the JI in Indonesia, arguing that details of the
\nresearch would be published in a book within two months.<\/p>\n
According to the SR-Ins, the JI wanted to turn Indonesia into
\nan Pan-Islamic state under a prophetic model that would include
\nfour mantiqis or regions. Mantiqi one would cover Singapore,
\nMalaysia and Southern Thailand; mantiqi two, Java and Sumatra;
\nmantiqi three, Kalimantan, Mindanao in the Southern Philippines
\nand Sulawesi; and mantiqi four, Northern Australia.<\/p>\n
\"Nashir Abbas is one of the mantiqi commanders,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
The JI, according to Agus, has drafted its own constitution
\nand conducts military training in weaponry, infantry, map
\nreading, and field engineering.<\/p>\n
The training sessions, according to Agus, were led by
\nIndonesian volunteers who were sent to Afghanistan to fight
\nagainst the Russian occupation there. The volunteers had received
\nmilitary training from the United States in Peshawar, Pakistan,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Radical Muslims from around the world were trained by Western
\nallies in Peshawar to fight against the former Soviet Union.<\/p>\n
After the cold war, Agus said, the recruits stayed on and
\ndiscussed the problems that their respective countries were
\nfacing.<\/p>\n
\"Among them were radical Muslims from Indonesia, who were sent
\nthere upon the recommendation of Abdullah Sungkar,\" said Agus,
\nadding that radical Muslims attending the Peshawar Military
\nAcademy included Imam Samudra, Hambali, and Nashir Abbas (JI's
\nmantiqi III commander overseeing Kalimantan and Mindanao.<\/p>\n
\"I have recorded the confession of Nashir Abbas, who said that
\nhe was sent to Peshawar upon the recommendation of Abdul Khalid
\nand Abdus Somad, which are the aliases of Abdullah Sungkar and
\nAbu Ba'asyir respectively,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir, who is now detained for his alleged involvement in
\nterrorist attacks in the country, could not be reached for
\ncomment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Established in Yogyakarta in 1998, the IAIN has focused on
\ninternational Islamic and political issues, including
\nfundamentalism and radicalism, since 2000.<\/p>",
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