Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Tuesday, January 18, 2005 12:07 p.m. PT
Radical Islamic groups in Indonesia
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
- JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH: A loose network of Islamic militants extending across
Southeast Asia, composed mostly of Indonesian nationals trained in Afghanistan and
Indonesia's eastern Maluku islands. Blamed for terrorist attacks, including the Aug. 5,
2003, bombing of the J.W. Marriott hotel in the capital, Jakarta, which killed 12
people, and the Oct. 12, 2002, bombings on Bali island that killed 202. Also accused
of plotting to bomb Western embassies and a U.S. naval facility in Singapore.
Intelligence officials say some operations have been financed by al-Qaida.
Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir is currently on trial charged with leading the group
and playing a role in the Marriott and Bali bombings. He denies the charges.
- MAJELIS MUJAHIDIN INDONESIA: An umbrella group of hard-liners formed in 1999
by Bashir. Its members, believed to number around 3,000, took part in bloody fighting
with Christians in the Maluku islands in 1999 and 2000. Its leaders deny any links to
terrorism, though some members have been arrested in Malaysia and the Philippines
and accused of terrorist activities. The group operates openly, campaigning for the
imposition of Islamic law in Indonesia, though under the scrutiny of security forces.
- LASKAR MUJAHIDIN: A subgroup of Majelis Mujahidin formed as a guerrilla force to
launch attacks on churches and priests in the Maluku islands in 1999-2000. Calls
itself Majelis Mujahidin's paramilitary wing.
- LASKAR JIHAD: A militia group accused of stoking religious violence in the Malukus
around 2000. Allegedly funded and trained by senior army commanders loyal to
former dictator Suharto to create trouble for reformist administrations that followed his
ouster in 1998. Disbanded in 2002 amid intense pressure on Indonesia to tackle
radical groups after the Bali bombing.
- ISLAMIC DEFENDERS FRONT: First appeared in 2000. Its members launch
occasional vandalism raids on Western-style pubs and discos in the Indonesian
capital, Jakarta, that they say violate Islamic principles. Analysts say extorting
money from frightened bar owners - not defending Islam - is its primary motive. The
group also led protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta against the invasions of
Afghanistan and Iraq.
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