NST, Monday, December 26 2005, 2:43:28 PM
'Engagement' to neutralise terror
Amy Chew in Jakarta
HARDENED militants imbued with the jihadi ideology do not listen to ulama and only
follow the words of their leaders, said a top anti-terror official.
As such, the Government needed to identify their leaders as they were the only ones
who could convince these people to stop their violent struggle, which has claimed
hundreds of lives, said Ansyaad Mbai, head! of the anti- terror desk at the
Co-ordinating Ministry of Security and Politics.
"In the case of their jihad, they don't listen to the ulama. If we only engage the ulama
to change their mindset, it won't be effective," Ansyaad told the New Sunday Times.
"The only man who can change their (jihadi) strategy is the real and actual leader.
"Who is the real leader? It is the Afghan alumni, those who share the jihad success
stories in Ambon and Poso," he added.
Hundreds of Indonesians went for training in military camps in Afghanistan in the late
1980s. After "graduating", they helped the Afghan mujahidin fight the Russians
occupying their land.
Many of the Afghan veterans later went on to the southern Philippines where they
trained and fought alongsid! e the Moro fighters.
When sectarian violence erupted in Ambon on the Maluku islands and Poso in Central
Sulawesi, the Afghan alumni waged jihad in conflict areas, which have become a
magnet for other militants.
Ansyaad's warning comes as the American Embassy issued fresh warnings on Friday
of possible terrorist attacks against Americans and other Westerners in Indonesia
over the Christmas and New Year period.
"The authorities have recently warned of the possibility that terrorists may be planning
to kidnap foreigners over the Christmas and New Year holidays," said the embassy.
"The possibility of terrorist attacks appears even higher this year in view of this new
threat information," it added.
According to Ansyaad, at least 350 men are known to have trained in Afghanistan but
exact numbers were difficult to pinpoint as many travelled there und! etected through
unofficial channels.
When the men returned, they recruited new members and passed on their skills.
"They have succeeded in recruiting and training thousands. I don't know how many
but what is clear is that it reached 3,000 in the conflict areas."
He said the Government needed to approach the militant leaders, appeal to them to
give up violence as part of their struggle to establish an Islamic state based on
Syariah in the country.
"They (militant leaders) have high respect from their ex-trainees. These people
(militant leaders) are the ones we should recruit as partners and ask to speak to their
ex-trainees, ex-friends.
"In my opinion, talking to some of these key figures, they (will) agree to co-operate to
neutralise their violent strategy."
Ansyaad declined to name the leaders, but said they had b! een identified and there
was a "bright spot" in the Government's efforts to engage them.
According to Ansyaad, the ulama play a crucial role in preventing vulnerable youth
from falling under the influence of militant teachings.
"The ulama can prevent young people studying in religious boarding schools from
being affected by radical ideology through their preaching and upgrading the
curriculum with a modern general education."
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