Military probes Moslem secessionist group<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday disclosed that
\nit is currently investigating the existence of a Moslem
\nsecessionist group on the western coast of West Java.<\/p>\n
ABRI Chief, Gen. Feisal Tanjung, made the announcement and
\npromised that the military would crush such a movement.<\/p>\n
\"If they disrupt (pose a threat), then we'll sweep them out,\"
\nFeisal told reporters before attending a cabinet meeting at the
\nBina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Feisal confirmed an earlier press report that 117 people in
\nPandeglang regency, West Java, are now being questioned for
\nalleged ties with the outlawed Moslem secessionist group Darul
\nIslam.<\/p>\n
His statement is the first official reaction to the
\ninvestigation of the group who is reported to be striving to
\nestablish a separate Islamic state.<\/p>\n
Most members of the group are civil servants employed at the
\nlocal offices of the ministries of religious affairs, education
\nand culture and tourism, according to earlier press reports.<\/p>\n
Feisal, however, refused to confirm whether or not the
\nauthorities have found evidence to back up the allegation. \"We
\ncan't say anything at this point. We are still studying the
\ncase.\"<\/p>\n
He added, however, that the authorities suspect the group has
\nlinks with the Darul Islam\/Tentara Islam Indonesia (DI\/TII), a
\nbanned Moslem movement established in the late 1940s with the aim
\nof setting up a separate Islamic state.<\/p>\n
The group is also reported to have certain \"leadership
\nstructures\", but have not been found to posses arms, he said.<\/p>\n
However, no arrests have been made so far. \"They were only
\nquestioned, not detained,\" Feisal asssured.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the world's most populous Moslem nation, with 88
\npercent of its 186 million population professing the faith of
\nIslam. It considers the setting up of a separate Islamic state as
\nsubversion.<\/p>\n
Feisal said the movement is still local and therefore has not
\nyet been brought to the attention of cabinet ministers under the
\ncharge of Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
\nSecurity.<\/p>\n
A local press report said the 117 people live in Banjar,
\nCadasari and Cibeliung subdistricts in Pandeglang and are alleged
\nto have established rituals such as oath taking for new members.<\/p>\n
The group's members reportedly must pay Rp 250,000 (US$115) to
\nfinance the group's \"struggle\", Berita Buana said.<\/p>\n
Motivated by dissatisfaction over the Indonesian revolutionary
\ngovernment's stance in a peace pact with the Dutch colonial
\nadministration, Sukarmaji Marijan Kartosuwiryo led the DI\/TII
\narmed rebellion in 1949.<\/p>\n
The Moslem movement, which initially waged guerrilla warfare
\nagainst the Dutch, spread from West Java to Central Java. It
\nlater changed course and endeavored to establish a separate
\nstate.<\/p>\n
Similar rebellions occurred in South Kalimantan, South
\nSulawesi, and Aceh, and they, along with the DI\/TII, were quashed
\nby the forces of the Republic of Indonesia in 1961. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-probes-moslem-secessionist-group-1447893297",
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