MMI national congress to discuss terrorism<\/p>\n
Sri Wahyuni and Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Java<\/p>\n
The hard-line Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) led by terror
\nsuspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, started its three-day national
\ncongress here on Sunday to reaffirm its \"peaceful\" fight for the
\nimplementation of Islamic law, or sharia, in the country.<\/p>\n
The MMI has included terrorism issues in its second congress,
\nparticularly because the group had been linked several times to
\nregional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI). Ba'asyir was
\nelected as MMI chairman at its first congress in 2000.<\/p>\n
According to MMI executive chairman Irfan S. Awwas, the
\ncongress was also being held in response to speculations that the
\ngroup would disband, as did hard-line group Laskar Jihad last
\nyear after the Bali bombing.<\/p>\n
\"We will never do that (disband). We are committed to
\nstruggling for the application of sharia in Indonesia through
\nlegal, constitutional means. We won't stray from that goal,\"
\nIrfan said after the opening of the congress.<\/p>\n
Some 3,000 people, including women and children, attended the
\nopening ceremony at Surakarta's Manahan Stadium on Jl.
\nAdisucipto. The main agenda of the opening ceremony was the
\npresentation of speeches from MMI leaders and guest speakers.<\/p>\n
Speakers included Huesin Umar from the Islamic Missionary
\nCouncil (DDI) and Mahendradatta, who is Ba'asyir's legal counsel.<\/p>\n
Although Ba'asyir failed to gain permission from security
\nauthorities to attend the congress, his speech was read out at
\nthe opening of the congress, in which he called on MMI members to
\ncontinue their fight for the application of sharia in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Ba'asyir is currently being tried for several offenses against
\nthe state, including treason and his alleged involvement in
\nplotting the assassination of Megawati while she was still vice
\npresident.<\/p>\n
The three-day congress, which is to be attended by about 1,200
\nparticipants, will be held at Haj Boarding House in Donohudan,
\nnear the Adi Sumarmo International Airport.<\/p>\n
Some 150 women MMI members were scheduled to hold a separate
\nmeeting to discuss the role of Muslim women in upholding sharia
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Fauzan Al Anshari, a member of the steering committee, said
\nthe congress would also discuss the relationship between Muslims
\nand non-Muslims, which had been marred by conflicts in several
\nareas.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, he said, the issue that would attract
\nparticipants' attention most would be terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We see that it is very important for the Mujahidin Council
\nto take a clear stance on terrorism, as we are often referred (a
\nterrorist group), especially because our chairman Ustadz Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir has been named a suspected JI leader,\" Fauzan
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Speaking separately to The Jakarta Post, Irfan said the MMI
\nwas completely different from JI, as his organization was
\n\"struggling for the peaceful application of sharia\".<\/p>\n
\"The Mujahidin Council has never expressed its goal through
\nviolent and anarchical ways. We will only do it through a way
\nthat is in accordance with Islamic teachings. Terrorists are not
\nidentical to Islam, and terrorism is not an Islamic teaching,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also noted that the congress was open to everyone, even
\nstate intelligence agents.<\/p>\n
The police have deployed 580 personnel to secure the congress.
\nIn addition, MMI has deployed some 500 members of its Laskar
\nMujahidin force to assist the police. The Laskar Mujahidin is
\nMMI's paramilitary wing.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mmi-national-congress-to-discuss-terrorism-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}