The Australian, October 21, 2005
Indonesia to monitor schools for terrorists
Sian Powell, Jakarta correspondent
INDONESIA will monitor Islamic boarding schools across the country as part of its
crackdown on terrorism.
Vice-president Jusuf Kalla did not specify which Islamic boarding schools would be
targeted, or how the schools would be monitored. But most experts believe the
schools most closely associated with Jemaah Islamiah will be watched, as a key
element in Indonesia's ramped-up efforts to combat terrorist violence and suicide
bombings. The nation has endured a string of terrorist attacks, most recently the
second Bali bombings earlier this month, which killed 23 people, including four
Australians. As many as three dozen militants linked to previous bomb attacks were
educated at Al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school in Ngruki, Solo, a school founded by
convicted extremist preacher and accused Jemaah Islamiah leader Abu Bakar Bashir.
Mr Kalla yesterday met Islamic scholars and preachers in an attempt to calm
tensions inflamed by his decision to monitor the Islamic boarding schools.
The principal of the Ngruki school said yesterday that anyone was welcome to
monitor the school, the alma mater of Bali bombers, JI leaders and the Marriott hotel
suicide bomber.
Ngruki and a handful of other schools have been dubbed the "Ivy League" of JI by the
International Crisis Group. "It's just nonsense - what a confused person," said Ngruki
principal Wahyudin. "But they have the right if they have the data, and if they have
something against us, yes, go ahead. We are open." Prominent Muslims from
Indonesia's peak Islamic organisation, the Islamic Council of Scholars (MUI), said
after their meeting with Mr Kalla that he had been vague about the nature of the
monitoring, and refused to say which schools would be watched or how they would be
corrected. "It will only involve scholars going to the schools to provide the correct
Islamic teaching," said MUI leader Umar Shihab.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his cabinet have been considering a range
of tighter security measures to clamp down on extremists. Urged to outlaw JI by the
international community, the Government has hesitated, fearing a Muslim backlash.
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf ordered a clampdown on religious schoos - or
madrassas - in his country after the bombings in London in July. Two of the London
bombers had visited the religious schools in Pakistan that have been accused of
breeding extremism. Mr Wahyudin warned yesterday that any closures of Islamic
boarding schools would be fiercely resisted.
© The Australian
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