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