Suchergebnisse

The war on terror has been well executed in Southeast Asia. The arrests of more than 160 Jemaah Islamiya-linked militants since December 2001 have disrupted the capabilities of terrorist operations. JI is less able to execute major attacks than they were a year ago. Yet there are causes for concern: first the group is rebuilding its capabilities. Second, there have been no gains in combating terrorist financing in the region, and to date no terrorist assets or funds have been seized in the region, despite evidence that Southeast Asia has only increased in financial importance to Al Qaeda. JIs financial operations are complex, ranging from legal to illegal, overt to covert. Due to the nature of their funding mechanisms and the fact that terrorism is asymmetrical warfare, combating terrorist financing will not be easy. Yet, choking the terrorist lifeblood is as important as targetting the operational cells themselves. (Contemp Southeast As/DÜI)

Recent publicity over the trials in Indonesia of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members has again brought the spotlight onto this elusive group and their operations around the region. This article begins by tracing the global and regional roots of the organization from conflict in the Middle East to the Iranian Revolution and the Soviet Afghan War. These events have contributed to the remarkable success of Osama bin Laden, his Al-Qaeda network and the call to Islamic jihad, all achieved by harnessing Muslim extremist forces to coincide with the zeitgeist of increasing religious orthodoxy and the politicisation of the ummah. Links are drawn between the Al-Qaeda and JI networks, as well as with other regional groups. The radicalisation of Islam in Southeast Asia is depicted as not such a recent phenomenon, but an evolution of political, social and educational practices across the region. Progressive and inclusive States like Singapore are not immune to the JIs insidious presence they can only hope to reduce the ongoing terrorist threat through robust security measures and effective public policies which incorporate education and dialogue with the Muslim leaders and the wider Islamic community. (Contemp Southeast Asia/DÜI)