The Straits Times, Saturday June 8, 2002
S. Sulawesi on alert for influx of Muslim militants
Its leaders, who do not want them on their turf, believe they will spark social unrest
and violence
By Marianne Kearney STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU
JAKARTA - Leaders of South Sulawesi, one of Indonesia's most devout Muslim
regions, are opposing plans by suspected Islamic militants to move into their turf.
The fear is that the influx could spark social unrest or even violence as was witnessed
in the neighbouring Malukus province.
South Sulawesi recently banned a Muslim organisation which was recruiting members
by offering to pay them 400,000 rupiah (S$80) a month and local office-bearers 12
million rupiah a month.
The organisation, the Foundation for Islamic Wal Jumaah Mission (Yamisa), claims to
have leftover riches inherited from the royal and ruling families from across the
archipelago.
South Sulawesi's government, as well as community leaders, suspect it to be a front
for a militant Muslim group which would whip up conflict in the province.
'We don't know what this group is and who is behind them,' said a local legislator
Nadham Yusuf.
'But we suspect they could create a conflict by provoking the people.'
The organisation's name is similar to a foundation which raises funds for the militant
Laskar Jihad group.
But Laskar Jihad representatives in Jakarta claimed not to have heard of it.
Laskar Jihad, blamed for fomenting violence in the Malukus, has come under pressure
to curb its operations in that province.
But it recently expanded into Central Sulawesi and West Papua.
Local officials are not sure if Yamisa is a militant group but Mr Nadham suspected it
had 'some dark backing'.
Unexpectedly for a regional government, South Sulawesi's Governor recently banned
the outfit, suspecting it to be like several other Muslim foundations which claim to
have social functions but provoke either religious or ethnic conflicts.
The movement, which claims to be based in Jakarta, has grown quickly in the
province, said local journalists.
At a protest in the provincial capital of Makassar, several thousand rural members
swarmed Parliament, demanding their organisation be given permission to operate.
Western observers say it would be easy for radical groups to establish a base in
Makassar as it has had a history of radical Islamic movements.
However, local Muslim leaders insisted that groups with an intent to create sectarian
conflict would be ousted.
'We already have many different Islamic groups here with different understandings of
Islam but people here don't want some right-wing Muslim group here,' said Muslim
cleric Rahim Assegaf.
Other politicians suspect the group may be a political pressure group.
Said a local legislator Nurdin Mangkana: 'Perhaps they want to generate some social
conflict and create a crisis of confidence, to pitch the people against the government.'
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