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TEMPO Magazine, No. 03/II/Sep 25 - Oct 1, 2001
National
Waiting for Osama's Blessing
Osama bin Laden, currently the talk of the world, comes in many faces. To the Americans, the Saudi-born tycoon is like a devilish troublemaker. However, in the eyes of some Muslims in various countries he can be an angel who blesses everybody. This country is no exception.
In reality, Osama is no devil to those occupying a dull white building at Pejaten Timur, South Jakarta. This is the office of the Darul Islam monthly, at the same time the place where Darul Islam activists often gather. Some of them once joined the jihad (holy war) in Afghanistan, the country now said to be protecting Osama. This is also where Al Chaidar, a young activist of this group, lives. When TEMPO met with him last week, he was just awaiting Osama's blessing. This means that if America dares to attack Afghanistan, his movement will gain new momentum. Darul Islam will react strongly while demanding that the Indonesian government enforce sharia or Islamic law.
Darul Islam has for some time maintained relations with Osama's network. Military collaboration has often been arranged, too, such as in the recent Poso and Ambon conflicts. "It's like the military cooperation between Indonesia and the US agreed upon by Megawati and Bush," said the 32-year-old activist, laughingly.
The ties in fact date back to the 1980s, when Afghan mujahidin (Muslim fighters) were engaged in a war against Soviet forces. Quite a lot of Muslim volunteers from Indonesia, including Darul Islam members, were dispatched to the scene. And according to Chaidar, the fighters in Afghanistan having direct contact with Osama respect the Islamic movement in Indonesia.
A fighter from this country once met with Osama. He is Jafar Umar Thalib, now known as commander of the holy war group, Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah. Before getting involved in the Afghan war, he had the opportunity to see Osama in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1987. At that time, the "terrorist" still had no beard and moustache. Talk for over two hours gave Jafar the impression that this young man with such a high jihad spirit actually lacked proper understanding of Islam.
Jafar calls the Osama group khawarij. Its followers adhere to the Koran and hadis (words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad) based on their own interpretations by ignoring the views of the Prophet's close friends. The ultimate goal of this school is to establish an Islamic state by means of revolution.
And in Ambon, Maluku, the khawarij has spread its influence. Jafar said two months ago a man close to Osama, Abu Abdul Aziz, went there. This jihad figure of Bosnia provided aid for Ambon's Laskar Mujahidin. Accompanied by mujahidin, Abdul Aziz offered assistance to Laskar Jihad, which was turned down.
The members of Laskar Mujahidin in Ambon are estimated at around 100. Their organization is very secretive and its supporters are scattered, making it difficult for TEMPO to confirm the report. Most of them are local Muslims, but some also come from outside Maluku. TEMPO sources indicate that frictions frequently arise between Laskar Mujahidin and Jafar Umar's Laskar Jihad.
Another organization is said to be linked with Osama bin Laden's ring. This is Majelis Mujahidin (Council), set up through a congress in Yogyakarta last year. But its leader denied the charge. Irfan Suryahadi Awwas, chairman of the council's executive board, claimed to have no personal nor organizational connection with Osama's group, let alone any aid from it. Majelis Mujahidin has so far received contributions only from its members, including Ustad (instructor) Mohammad Iqbal, who gets funds from his students in Malaysia as voluntary aid.
Nevertheless, Majelis Mujahidin followers do not see Osama as a devil. Irfan describes him as a devout Muslim with an honorable mission on behalf of the Islamic world. So, his organization will react if America does attack Afghanistan with the excuse of searching for Osama. He will mobilize his council members to drive out Americans from Indonesia. "They are a virus that has intervened in the Indonesian government for a long time," he asserted.
America may need to think twice. It seems that for a section of Muslims, striking Afghanistan is tantamount to inciting ubiquitous hostilities, a provocation no less.
Gendur Sudarsono, Ardi Bramantyo, L.N. Idayanie (Yogyakarta)
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