JP\/4\/separatist<\/p>\n
'Separatism creates a fertile ground for JI'<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The rise of separatism in many parts of Indonesia and in
\nneighboring countries has created a fertile ground for extremists
\nand terrorist movements to expand their networks in southeast
\nAsia, which could complicate security problems in the future, say
\nanalysts.<\/p>\n
They said the regional Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network
\nand other militant groups could use local separatist movements as
\na chance to spread influence across the region.<\/p>\n
\"As long as separatist movements still exist in Southeast
\nAsia, the JI activities have a very fertile ground to develop,\"
\nAdriana Elisabeth with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI) said during a three-day seminar that concluded on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
She warned that the collaboration between JI and local
\nseparatist movements could make security problems in Southeast
\nAsia more complicated.<\/p>\n
\"JI's influence on these local movements tends to prolong the
\nconflicts that will then maintain national and regional
\ninsecurity,\" Adriana said.<\/p>\n
Separatist insurgences have been plaguing certain parts of
\nSoutheast Asia, particularly Indonesia, the Philippines and
\nThailand. Aside from that, prolonged Christian-Muslim fighting
\nhas devastated several areas in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A recent report issued by the International Crisis Group (ICG)
\nrevealed possible links between senior leaders of JI and the Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Police investigations into the Bali bombings on Oct. 12, 2002
\nshowed that JI cells appeared in Indonesia after dozens of its
\nsuspected members were arrested.<\/p>\n
The investigators accused elderly Muslim cleric Abu Bakar
\nBa'asyir of being a spiritual leader of JI. He is now on trial on
\ncharges of a plot to kill President Megawati Soekarnoputri in
\n1999, when she was the vice president.<\/p>\n
Adriana said the sectarian and separatist armed conflicts were
\na \"beneficial situation\" for JI's operations and other militant
\nmovements to spread terror across the region.<\/p>\n
Laskar Jihad, one of the major militant groups, was one such
\ngroup, as it managed to enter Maluku and Central Sulawesi to
\nfight Christians without any apparent challenge from security
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
Both Maluku and Poso are in an uneasy peace with sporadic
\nviolence erupting occasionally, although Muslim and Christian
\nleaders signed two truces to end years of the religious fighting.<\/p>\n
\"The interreligious conflict in Ambon (Maluku) contributed to
\nthe transaction of arms smuggling to Mindanao (southern
\nPhilippines) to support the local movements,\" Adriana said.<\/p>\n
She said there was little evidence of the illegal trade, like
\nseized boats full of guns, but the guns and other ammunition
\nseized from suspects did end up in their hands, which proves the
\ntransactions.<\/p>\n
Adriana and other speakers at the seminar agreed to say that
\nthe regional separatist and extremist movements gave examples of
\nhow Muslim minorities adopted violent measures as they felt
\nneglected by the central government.<\/p>\n
They also said the potential for violence and radicalism are
\ninherent in all faiths due to a literal interpretation of
\nreligions and other political ideologies.<\/p>\n
Therefore, a religion should not be considered as part of the
\nproblem, but part of the solution, the seminar suggested.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4separatist-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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