ABC AUSTRALIA, 3/10/2005
Jemaah Islamiah: key facts
Indonesian authorities say the latest bombings in Bali bear all the hallmarks of an
operation by the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network, which is also blamed for several
other attacks in Indonesia.
Jemaah Islamiah is an Islamic extremist group linked to al Qaeda which operates in
South East Asia. It is accused of dozens of attacks in Indonesia since 1999, as well
as involvement in bombings in the Philippines, and of planning attacks on Western
targets in Singapore.
Literally meaning "Islamic Community", JI's stated goal is to create an Islamic state
under Sharia law, comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, southern
Thailand and the island of Mindanao in the Philippines.
JI has its roots in Darul Islam, a movement which promoted the establishment of an
Indonesian Islamic state in the 1950s and 60s.
Key figures
Some of the known senior JI figures are in custody, while others remain on the run:
Abu Bakar Bashir: Considered the spiritual leader of JI, Abu Bakar Bashir
co-founded the group with Abdullah Sungkar in Malaysia in 1993. When Abdullah died
in 1999, Abu Bakar Bashir assumed the leadership. He is currently serving a prison
term for criminal conspiracy related to the 2002 Bali attacks. However, he was cleared
of planning the terror attacks.
Hambali: Also known as Riduan Isamuddin, Hambali is a veteran of the anti-Soviet
campaign in Afghanistan. He was involved in the transformation of JI into a terror
network using the knowledge he gained as a senior member of al Qaeda. Hambali
was the operations chief of JI until his arrest in Thailand in 2004. He is still in US
custody.
Dr Azahari Husin: A Malaysian citizen, Dr Azahari is believed to be the
organisation's bomb expert. Authorship of JI's bomb manual is attributed to him and
he is accused of making the bombs used for the 2002 Bali attacks and the 2003
Marriot Hotel bombing in Jakarta. He is one of the most wanted men in Asia.
Noordin Mohammad Top: Another Malaysian national, Noordin Mohammad Top, is
also believed to have been involved in making of the bombs used in the first Bali
bombings and the Marriot Hotel attack. He remains at large.
Attacks associated with JI
Indonesian officials believe JI are behind the latest attacks on Bali's tourist areas
which they say bear the hallmarks of other bombings involving Dr Azahari and
Noordin.
JI has also been linked to a number of deadly terror attacks, including:
The September 9, 2004 car bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta which
caused 11 deaths and left more than 100 injured;
The 5 August, 2003 Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta which killed 12 people and
injured at least 150 more.
The October 12, 2002 bombings in Bali which killed 202 people in the popular Kuta
bar district;
In December 2001, Singaporean authorities foiled JI plans for multiple suicide bombing
attacks against Western targets in Singapore. More than 30 Singapore-based JI
members were arrested;
The December 24, 2000 spate of bombings at churches across Indonesia which killed
at least 14 people and left more than 100 injured;
The August 1, 2000 attempted assassination of the Philippines Ambassador to
Indonesia. Two were killed and the ambassador was seriously injured after a bomb
exploded outside his Jakarta residence.
Current status
Most experts believe JI's capability has been drastically reduced. Many senior figures
are in custody and financial and administrative channels have been disrupted. In
addition, there are reports of internal splits over the group's tactics, which have
resulted in many Indonesian Muslim victims.
Dozens of alleged members have been arrested across the region with top figures
such as Hambali and Abu Bakar Bashir still in custody. Indonesian courts have
convicted more than 40 people in relation to the first Bali bombings, the Marriot Hotel
and Australian embassy attacks, sentencing five to death.
However, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned that even if JI itself is
disbanded, terrorism in Indonesia is not likely to disappear.
It says Dr Azahari Husin and Noordin Mohammad Top both have their own complex
web of contacts outside of the JI framework. In fact, only half of those detained for
terrorist activities in Indonesia are members of JI, ICG says.
© ABC 2005 |
