'Laskar Jihad' agrees to leave, surrender weapons

BOGOR (JP): Some 3,000 volunteers of the Laskar Jihad (Jihad Force) agreed on Thursday to surrender their weapons and vacate their military-style training camp at the Munjul village of Kayumanis in Tanah Sareal District here.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Jihad Force commander Jaffar Umar Thalib and Bogor Regional Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi at police headquarters on Thursday afternoon.

"As we are not a group of hoodlums, we will voluntarily surrender all of our weapons to the police," Jaffar told a media conference at the headquarters.

Jaffar refused to go into detail about the agreement, telling journalists to confirm the details of the meeting with the police chief.

Edi told journalists at the headquarters the group had also agreed to leave their camp immediately.

"The Laskar Jihad members are not Bogor residents. They have agreed to immediately leave the Munjul village and return to their hometowns," Edi said.

Earlier in the day, Edi told the media the Bogor authorities had ordered the group to leave the village within 24 hours.

"Those who have joined the jihad training must return to their hometowns. Any resistance or refusal will result in action from the police," he said.

Edi said the police had deployed five armored vehicles and officers from the elite Mobile Brigade in Kedung Halang, some 300 officers from the Bandung Police and riot officers from Bogor to ensure the group handed over their weapons and left the area. "We are also cooperating with the local military command," he said.

"I received complaints from locals that Laskar Jihad's military-style training terrified and disturbed them.

"Some roads in the area were closed, forcing local residents to travel longer distances to go to and from their homes," he said.

Permission

A number of residents told The Jakarta Post the Jihad Force had also cut down trees in the area without permission.

"Cibadak River has been polluted because (the group) uses the river for sanitation, while locals use the river water for washing. We just want leaders of the Jihad Force to understand all these complaints and to leave the area as soon as possible," Edi said.

When they first arrived in the area, the group asked for permission to organize sports activities. "Bogor is closed for such activities," according to Edi.

Members of Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah have been taking part in the military-style training since April 6. As many as 3,150 Muslim youths took part in the training, which was organized on a seven-hectare plot of land belonging to the Al Irsad Foundation chaired by Hilal Thalib.

The group announced the youths would leave for Maluku on April 23 to aid Muslims affected by communal clashes in the province.

The group's chairman, Ayip Syarifuddin, earlier said there were plans to deploy 10,000 volunteers to Maluku. (21/ylt/sur/imn)