MMI national congress to discuss terrorism

MMI national congress to discuss terrorism

Sri Wahyuni and Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Java

The hard-line Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) led by terror
suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, started its three-day national
congress here on Sunday to reaffirm its "peaceful" fight for the
implementation of Islamic law, or sharia, in the country.

The MMI has included terrorism issues in its second congress,
particularly because the group had been linked several times to
regional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI). Ba'asyir was
elected as MMI chairman at its first congress in 2000.

According to MMI executive chairman Irfan S. Awwas, the
congress was also being held in response to speculations that the
group would disband, as did hard-line group Laskar Jihad last
year after the Bali bombing.

"We will never do that (disband). We are committed to
struggling for the application of sharia in Indonesia through
legal, constitutional means. We won't stray from that goal,"
Irfan said after the opening of the congress.

Some 3,000 people, including women and children, attended the
opening ceremony at Surakarta's Manahan Stadium on Jl.
Adisucipto. The main agenda of the opening ceremony was the
presentation of speeches from MMI leaders and guest speakers.

Speakers included Huesin Umar from the Islamic Missionary
Council (DDI) and Mahendradatta, who is Ba'asyir's legal counsel.

Although Ba'asyir failed to gain permission from security
authorities to attend the congress, his speech was read out at
the opening of the congress, in which he called on MMI members to
continue their fight for the application of sharia in Indonesia.

Ba'asyir is currently being tried for several offenses against
the state, including treason and his alleged involvement in
plotting the assassination of Megawati while she was still vice
president.

The three-day congress, which is to be attended by about 1,200
participants, will be held at Haj Boarding House in Donohudan,
near the Adi Sumarmo International Airport.

Some 150 women MMI members were scheduled to hold a separate
meeting to discuss the role of Muslim women in upholding sharia
in Indonesia.

Fauzan Al Anshari, a member of the steering committee, said
the congress would also discuss the relationship between Muslims
and non-Muslims, which had been marred by conflicts in several
areas.

Nevertheless, he said, the issue that would attract
participants' attention most would be terrorism.

"We see that it is very important for the Mujahidin Council
to take a clear stance on terrorism, as we are often referred (a
terrorist group), especially because our chairman Ustadz Abu
Bakar Ba'asyir has been named a suspected JI leader," Fauzan
said.

Speaking separately to The Jakarta Post, Irfan said the MMI
was completely different from JI, as his organization was
"struggling for the peaceful application of sharia".

"The Mujahidin Council has never expressed its goal through
violent and anarchical ways. We will only do it through a way
that is in accordance with Islamic teachings. Terrorists are not
identical to Islam, and terrorism is not an Islamic teaching," he
said.

He also noted that the congress was open to everyone, even
state intelligence agents.

The police have deployed 580 personnel to secure the congress.
In addition, MMI has deployed some 500 members of its Laskar
Mujahidin force to assist the police. The Laskar Mujahidin is
MMI's paramilitary wing.