Cry Indonesia Media, for International Friends of Compassion Monday, October 21, 2002 http://cryindonesia.rnc.org.au

The Indonesian Islamic Militant Force, Laskar Jihad (‘soldiers of the Holy War’), widely held responsible for carrying out violence against the Christian population of East Indonesia in which 10 000 people have been killed in recent years, disbanded just hours before the terrorist attack on Bali on Saturday October 12 which killed more than 200 people.

Since Tuesday October 15, Laskar Jihad troops have been seen leaving Ambon, Maluku and Poso, Central Sulawesi and returning to their homeland of Java. The Laskar Jihad Yogyakarta office is closed and their official website is now offline.

There is speculation that the timing of the closure of Laskar Jihad and its parent organisation, ‘Communication Forum for Ahlussunnah Waljamaah’, is directly connected with the attack in Bali. There are several possibilities:

– Recent international pressure on the Indonesian government has finally resulted in a crackdown on Islamic militant groups within Indonesia – or, it is a strategic move by Laskar Jihad to now go underground in order to avoid attention in the event of a crackdown on militant groups – or, high ranking generals within the Indonesian military who used their support of Laskar Jihad to destabilise the government have now withdrawn that support because they want to distance themselves from any suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities. – or, they simply ran out of financial backing and support from the Middle East.

Whilst many would question Laskar Jihad’s ability to carry out an attack as devastating as the Bali bombing the question must be asked, ‘did others who have provided support to Laskar Jihad have any prior knowledge of, or involvement in the Sari club bombing and so plan in advance to dissolve the group in anticipation of a crackdown on Islamic militants?’

Jafar Umar Thalib, chief commander of Laskar Jihad, which is reported to have 10 000 members and 7 million ‘followers’, maintains that it is a pure co-incidence that his group disbanded the same day as the Bali bombing. He says that the reason for the group disbanding is because the mission of ‘jihad’ has now been completed. He was also concerned that some Laskar Jihad members were getting involved in political activities, which were beyond the original purpose for the group.

Since September 11 questions have been asked concerning Thalib’s links with worldwide terrorism. Publically, Thalib has distanced himself and his group from any connection with Al Qaeda and other groups with an international or regional agenda. However, it has now been confirmed that Al Qaeda were running a training camp for terrorists in Central Sulawesi in which Laskar Jihad members were involved. Osama Bin Laden is a cult hero for the young militants, who in joining Laskar Jihad, also joined the terrorist war against Christians, Jews, Americans and all other ‘infidels’. Laskar Jihad also have close connections with Jemaah Islamiah and Abu Bakar Bashir, who has been implicated in the Bali bombing.

Laskar Jihad’s legal adviser said last week that former Laskar Jihad members would now regroup under a new name, Ihya’us Sunnah, meaning “to revive Prophet Mohammad’s way of life.” He said that this new entity would have a focus on social activities, not militancy.

Whilst East Indonesian Christians are thankful for the withdrawal of Jihad troops from Maluku and Central Sulawesi, Christian leaders have expressed concern that many jihad still remain in areas such as Ternate, North Maluku and in West Papua (Irian Jaya), where there are reportedly still more than 1000 Laskar Jihad forces. Since June 2001, Laskar Jihad in West Papua were said to be positioning themselves for an Ambon style attack against the local indigenous (mainly Christian) population. It is also a concern that Laskar Jihad members returning to Java could now be enlisted by other like-minded, but more hidden hard line Islamic militias.

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Ian Freestone Web Page: http://cryindonesia.rnc.org.au