JP\/2\/UIN<\/p>\n
More terrorist threats cannot be ignored, seminar says<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The threat of further terrorist attacks by Jamaah Islamiyyah (JI)
\nis tangible, and could endanger peace and security throughout
\nSoutheast Asia and other regions across the globe, a three-day
\nseminar concluded here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that there is a group of militant Muslims, namely JI
\nthat has the potential to perpetrate violence and commit acts of
\nterrorism, cannot be ignored,\" said a statement read out on the
\nfinal day of the seminar on Islamic Militant Movements in
\nSoutheast Asia.<\/p>\n
\"There is evidence that the group exists in Southeast Asia and
\ncould endanger peace and security of the region and the rest of
\nthe world as well,\" it added.<\/p>\n
Authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the
\nPhilippines have arrested dozens of suspects in terror incidents
\nincluding the 2002 Bali bombings, who are believed to be JI
\nmembers.<\/p>\n
However, they and analysts believe that many other supporters
\nand sympathizers of the regional terror group remain at large.<\/p>\n
\"JI or its new incarnation remains a force to be reckoned
\nwith,\" Sidney Jones, Indonesian project director of the
\nInternational Crisis Group, told the seminar on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
She said the existence of lethal skills, access to weapons and
\nexplosives and top-flight strategists with a jihadist vision
\nsuggest that JI's serious danger remains.<\/p>\n
The statement read out by Murni Djamal, director of the Center
\nfor Languages and Cultures at the State Islamic University (UIN),
\nsaid serious measures should be taken to curb the group's spread
\nso as not to \"harm the human civilization\".<\/p>\n
\"There should also be a guarantee that civil liberties are
\npreserved in attempting to minimize the potential danger of
\nmilitancy,\" it added.<\/p>\n
The seminar, organized by the Center, urged the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) to be more proactive in tackling the terrorist
\nthreats here.<\/p>\n
However, elements within the military have been accused of
\nprotecting and using extremist groups to achieve their own
\npolitical interests.<\/p>\n
In a move to help counter imminent terrorist problems, the UIN
\nunveiled a plan to conduct more academic research to shed more
\nlight on the inner workings and history of JI, provided it had
\nthe money to do so.<\/p>\n
\"We can carry out academic research on our own. But other
\nagencies can support and cooperate with us,\" UIN rector Azyumardi
\nAzra told The Jakarta Post later on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"As an academic institution, we need do such a survey. So far,
\nthe investigation into JI has been conducted only with a security
\napproach,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The plan was also announced by Murni Djamal when closing the
\nseminar.<\/p>\n
He said an academic investigation is needed to \"clarify and
\nidentify the membership, structure and networking\" of JI in the
\nsoutheast Asia region.<\/p>\n
\"Needless to say the State Islamic University is one of the
\nmost appropriate institutions to conduct research with support
\nand cooperation from our partners,\" Djamal said.<\/p>\n
He mentioned the partners, such as the Indonesia-Netherlands
\nIslamic Studies (INIS), the Ford Foundation and the Asia
\nFoundation.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp2uin-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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