Jamaah Islamiyah exists in Indonesia, research reveals

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.