The Straits Times, Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Terror expert not worried about Bashir's release
By Zakir Hussain
What is more crucial is militants like him should be prevented from translating radical
texts in prison, says Sidney Jones
THE recent release of militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir does not worry analyst Sidney
Jones, an expert on terror networks in the region.
What's more important, she said, is that militants like Bashir be forbidden from
translating radical texts when they are in prison.
Another anti-terror step she believes the Indonesian authorities need to take is to
supervise more closely those religious schools and universities that have become
recruiting grounds for militants.
Doing so will help stem the spread of radical ideologies in Indonesia, Ms Jones of the
International Crisis Group told reporters yesterday, ahead of a forum to help
community and religious leaders here understand the nature of radical Islamic
ideology.
She said: 'There has been far too much emphasis on Bashir's role when he has not
been as active since 2001.' Bashir was freed two weeks ago after spending two years
and two months in jail, for his role in the 2002 Bali attacks that killed 202 people.
Ms Jones believes that a far greater danger to Indonesia is its most-wanted fugitive
Noordin Mohamed Top, a 38-year-old Malaysian who is bent on proving that he can
still launch an attack despite the losses suffered by his network.
'There remains a very tightly knit support network in central and east Java that
enables him to move from house to house,' she said.
Noordin has broken away from regional terror network Jemaah Islamiah. His
compatriot, leading bomb maker Azahari Husin, died in a shootout last year.
Still, Ms Jones believes he has been successful in recruiting radicals. 'As long as he
can recruit even one suicide bomber, he can do serious damage,'' she said.
Such radicals are often youngsters indoctrinated by radical books, many of which
originate from the Middle East but are translated by imprisoned militants.
She also noted that materials linked to Noordin's group suggest a shift in the militants'
focus.
Western interests are not the only targets now. Indonesian officials and institutions
are also on the list due to their counter-terror efforts.
In addition, the terrorists can go ahead and carry out an attack in a small group,
without any approval from a leader, noted Ms Jones.
She acknowledges that combating these teachings is 'an extremely difficult
undertaking', but suggested that Indonesia can shatter some of the tightly knit
networks by addressing local grievances over land and injustice in such conflict-ridden
areas as Ambon and the Poso region in Sulawesi.
By doing so, people will have one less reason to turn to militancy, she said.
Over the past two days, Ms Jones and Middle East expert Fawaz Gerges have been
speaking at two seminars organised by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
(Muis), to heighten the Muslim community's awareness of radical ideologies that
distort mainstream Islam.
Professor Fawaz Gerges, from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, is interviewing
militants in the Middle East for a book he is writing. He said militants should not be
grouped as one because their motivations differ.
Copyright © 2006 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reversed.
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