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Southeast Asia

Thousands of Muslims protest Indonesian Governor’s alleged blasphemy

2016-11-05

This is not the moderate Islam of President Obama's childhood. [KOBI5] Thousands of protesters waving flags are marching through Jakarta demanding the ouster of the city’s governor, who has been accused of blasphemy against Moslems. Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, is alleged to have insulted Islam by criticizing his opponents’ use of a Koranic verse in a stump speech. As many as 18,000 police and military personnel have been deployed for Friday’s protest, and an inner ring of approximately 100 armed military guards are outside the Governor’s residence, CNN Indonesia says. Local media suggest as many as 50,000 people could take to the streets. There are fears that ISIS, and al-Qaeda, through its Indonesian proxy Jemaah Islamiyah, could seek to ferment violence. Police have called on demonstrators to exercise their right to protest and freedom of expression in a peaceful manner. Residents have been warned to avoid the protest route and avoid sharing "unclear... provocative and incorrect information" on social media, Police Chief Tito Karnavian said in a statement. The rally originates at Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta and will end at the Presidential palace. Governments, including the UK and Australia, have urged their citizens in the city to exercise caution. Conservative Islamist opponents say that Ahok, who is a Christian of Chinese descent, should not administer a Moslem-majority city. They had previously quoted a verse from the Moslem holy book at a rally, which warns against Moslems allying themselves with non-believers. Ahok is a key ally of President Joko Widodo and was his deputy when Widodo -- also known as Jokowi -- was governor of Jakarta. Ahok is now the frontrunner in the 2017 gubernatorial race. Indonesian President Joko Widodo with Ahok after the latter’s swearing in as governor on November 19, 2014. Jokowi has called for calm and is seeking support from Prabowo Subianto, his opponent in next year’s presidential election. Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose son is running against Ahok, made a speech two days ago calling for the governor to be persecuted to placate the Islamist opposition and quell the protests.

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Southeast Asia

Bashir: Funding terror camp was 'act of worship'

2016-01-14

[IBT-UK] The jailed spiritual leader of al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah has said that his sentence should be overturned because the funds he raised for a military-style training camp was an 'act of worship'. Caged cleric Abu Bakar Bashir appealed to have his conviction for funding a terrorist camp overturned because it was Allah's order. During the hearing he argued that his aid for the camp was an 'act of worship' despite the militant network being accused of planning attacks on foreigners in Jakarta, and the assassinations of moderate leaders, including former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Jemaah Islamiyah were also blamed for the savage 2002 Bali bombings which claimed the lives of 202 people. In 2011 Bashir was convicted of funding the militant training camp in Aceh province and jailed for 15 years. But a higher court later cut the sentence to nine years. At the District Court in Cilacap, near the prison island of Nusakembangan where he is currently incarcerated, Bashir said that the camp was designed to defend Muslims. He said, "The physical and weapons' training in Aceh were aimed at defending Islam and Muslims in Indonesia and overseas, and were an obligation Muslims must fulfill because it is God's order. My deed of helping the physical training in Aceh was merely an act of worship." A lawyer representing the cleric said that he knew the camp violated firearms laws but he was simply following Allah's orders in supporting it. He added that the funds were also for religious use. Outside the court hundreds of supporters waited for a heavily-guarded Bashir to arrive. They yelled "Allah Akbar," "Bashir is not a terrorist" and "Free Bashir."

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Down Under

Australia Outlaws Travel to Terror Hotspots

2014-10-31

[AnNahar] Australia on Thursday passed a law criminalizing travel to terror hotspots, a tough counter-terrorism measure aimed at stopping jihadists from going to Iraq and Syria to fight. The Australian government has been increasingly concerned about the flow of imported muscle to the Middle East to join murderous Moslem groups such as Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... , with 70 Australians believed to have already made the journey. The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) includes measures that make it an offense to enter a "declared area" where a terrorist organization is engaging in hostile activity, without a valid reason. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. "The imported muscle bill that has passed the parliament today will mean, first of all, that it is easier to secure convictions against Australians who have been fighting with terrorist groups overseas," Prime Minister Tony Abbott told parliament Thursday. "It will mean that it is easier to monitor potential bully boyz here, and it will also mean... that it is easier to prosecute the preachers of hate who create the potential terrorists." Abbott told parliament about 100 Australians were supporting jihadists who had traveled to the Middle East to fight with recruitment and funding from home. Some 20 jihadists who fought with terrorist groups in the region had also returned to Australia, Abbott added. "The best way to deal with returning imported muscle is to stop them leaving in the first place... and I'm able to inform the House that some 70 Australian passports have been canceled to stop bully boyz or potential bully boyz from traveling." The new law, which was passed by the lower House of Representatives on Thursday with bipartisan support, came as the Labor opposition raised concerns that another national security measure passed in September could see journalists locked away Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! for up to 10 years. Attorney-General George Brandis refuted the concerns, saying that the legislation was instead "intended to deal with a Snowden-type situation". Documents leaked by U.S. intelligence runaway Edward Snowden included reports in November that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his inner circle, damaging relations between the two countries.

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Southeast Asia

Indonesian president says IS 'embarrassing' Muslims

2014-08-22

[ARABNEWS] The president of Indonesia has called the actions of Islamic State snuffies "embarrassing" to the religion and urged religious leaders to unite in tackling extremism. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the scale of the slaughter wrought by the gunnies in overrunning large swathes of Iraq and Syria and the level of violence being used was appalling. "It is shocking. It is becoming out of control," he said in an interview with The Australian, a day after IS released a video showing a masked murderous Moslem beheading US news hound James Foley, provoking worldwide revulsion. "We do not tolerate it, we forbid ISIS in Indonesia," he added, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ... the current version of al-Qaeda in Iraq, just as blood-thirsty and well-beloved as the original... , as IS was formerly known. "Indonesia is not an Islamic state. We respect all religions." He urged international leaders to work together to combat radicalization. "This is a new wake-up call to international leaders all over the world, including Islamic leaders," he said, adding that the actions of IS were not only "embarrassing" to Islam but "humiliating," the newspaper reported. "All leaders must review how to combat extremism. Changing paradigms on both sides are needed — how the West perceives Islam and how Islam perceives the West." Indonesia is home to the world's biggest Moslem population of about 225 million and has long struggled with terrorism. But a successful clampdown in recent years has seen the end of major deadly attacks. Jakarta has estimated that dozens of Indonesians have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight and Yudhoyono said he was concerned about their return, adding that he had tasked agencies to oppose the spread of holy warrior ideology in the sprawling nation. "Our citizens here in Indonesia are picking up recruitment messages from ISIS containing holy warrior ideas," said the president, whose decade in office comes to an end in October. "The philosophy of ISIS stands against the fundamental values we embrace in Indonesia. Last Friday, in my state of the union address to the nation, I called on all Indonesians to reject ISIS and to stop the spread of its radical ideology. "My government and security agencies have taken decisive steps to curtail the spread of ISIS in Indonesia, including by prohibiting Indonesians to join ISIS or to fight for ISIS, and also by blocking Internet sites that promote this idea." Indonesia's neighbor Australia has also seen up to 150 of its nationals join the murderous Moslems, with the photo of an Australian boy holding a severed head in Syria last week sparking global condemnation. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday said IS was "as close to pure evil as we're ever likely to find" and what happened to Foley was "sickening."

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Southeast Asia

Indonesia bans its citizens from joining ISIL

2014-08-06

[Iran Press TV] The Indonesian government has introduced a ban on support for Takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed... ISIL snuffies in the Southeast Asian country, warning its citizens against joining the terrorists' fight in Syria and Iraq. Speaking on the sidelines of a closed-door cabinet meeting held in the presidential palace and presided over by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday, Indonesia's Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Djoko Suyanto said the rising profile of the ISIL in Indonesia must be controlled as it poses a serious threat to the country's cultural and religious diversity, the English-language newspaper Jakarta Post reported. "The government rejects and bans the teachings of ISIL […] from growing in Indonesia. It [ISIL] is not in line with state ideology," he said. Djoko added that the Jakarta government has been closely watching ISIL' activities and the possible intrusion of the terrorist organization in Indonesia. He said monitoring measures will be conducted collectively by his ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Law and Human Rights Ministry, National Intelligence Agency and the National Counterterrorism Agency to detect and prevent would-be snuffies from traveling to areas where ISIL is currently fighting.

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Southeast Asia

Obama congratulates Indonesia's incoming president Jokowi

2014-07-24

[Straits Times] Best wishes and congratulations from world leaders have been flowing in for president-elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, following Tuesday evening's final election result announcement by the General Elections Commission (KPU). US President Barack Obama I am the change that you seek... , Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott were among the first world leaders to call Jokowi and congratulate him. "Last night, Pak SBY (outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and Mr Vice President Boediono called and congratulated me. This morning, the Singaporean PM and Australian PM called me. At 11am today, Mr Obama called and congratulated me," Jokowi said at City Hall in Jakarta on Wednesday.

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-Lurid Crime Tales-

Australian FM Lashes Snowden 'Treachery' on U.S. Visit

2014-01-23

[An Nahar] Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop lashed out Wednesday at Edward Snowden, accusing the U.S. intelligence leaker of "unprecedented treachery" after he unveiled Canberra's efforts to spy on Indonesia. Bishop praised cooperation with Washington and reserved harsh words for Snowden, whose revelations led Indonesia to halt work with Australia to stem people smuggling, a key priority for new conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Shortly before a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Foreign Policy Whiz Kid Biden The former Senator-for-Life from Delaware, an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body... in Washington, Bishop said Snowden "continues to shamefully betray his nation while skulking in Russia. "This represents unprecedented treachery; he is no hero," she added, in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "Snowden claims his actions were driven by a desire for transparency, but in fact they strike at the heart of the collaboration between those nations in world affairs that stand at the forefront of protecting human freedom," she said. Reports based on Snowden's leaks said that the close US ally tried to bug the phones of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his wife and members of his inner circle in 2009. Indonesia protested by recalling its ambassador and suspending military and immigration cooperation.

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Southeast Asia

Indonesia suspects new terrorist links to al Qaeda

2012-11-02

A group of 11 suspected terrorists arrested in Indonesia in the past week for allegedly planning to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American targets is likely connected to remnants of Jemaah Islamiyah, according to Indonesia's counterterrorism head. Ansyaad Mbai said interrogation of the group would probably show they are linked with Jemaah Islamiyah, which was al Qaeda's chief franchise in Southeast Asia and the group that carried out the Bali bombings 10 years ago. He said the group "looked new at first, but we've found that they're connected to the previous terrorist networks." The arrests came as government forces stepped up operations on the northern island of Sulawesi. Police on Wednesday killed one suspect and arrested two others in a shootout in the Sulawesi town of Poso. Mbai said Poso is the new front in Indonesia's fight against Islamism. Officials say militants are fomenting sectarian unrest between Muslims and Christians in Poso to destabilize the country and advance their ultimate goal of creating an Islamic nation. Mbai said, "The center of gravity for terrorism in Indonesia is Solo [in Central Java], but Poso is used as the training grounds now. The situation is already critical. People are scared." He said it was possible that some of the men apprehended during the past week in the plot against the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta received training in Poso. The 11 suspects were all arrested in cities on Java: Bogor, Solo and Madiun. Indonesian police said the suspects were planning attacks on the embassy, the U.S. Consulate in Surabaya and an office of the Indonesian arm of a U.S. mining company. Indonesian police identified the suspects as being from a little-known group called Haraqah Sunni for Indonesian Society, or Hasmi. The group targeted American interests in part for revenge following the anti-Islam video clip, that triggered protests around the Muslim world. Amar said, "From the investigation so far, we know that one of the reasons why they will launch the act of terrorism is this movie, which they view is a blasphemy against Islam. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in a speech on Tuesday, called on Indonesia's citizens to fight terrorism but added that the rest of the world needs to be careful about angering extremist elements. He said, "I am also calling on to the world, to countries to uphold mutual respect and be sensitive to [values] in other communities, in other nations, in other religions. Stop blasphemies." Southeast Asia's terror situation is not confined to Indonesia. Lebanese officials last week arrested two Malaysians in Beirut on suspicion of having links with al Qaeda. Marwan Sinno, the lawyer representing the two Malaysians, said they had been accused of working for al Qaeda and planning a terrorist act in Syria.

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Southeast Asia

Bali police warn of terror threat on bomb anniversary

2012-10-10

Indonesian police have warned of possible attacks targeting Friday's ceremony marking 10 years since the Bali bombings. A top Bali police official said security was being tightened after they received "credible information" that dignitaries could be targeted. Leaders including Indonesia's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australia's Julia Gillard will be attending the ceremony. They will mark two blasts on 12 October 2002 in Kuta that left 202 people dead. "From the information that we have gathered, there are indications of movements aimed at VIPs who will attend the event," Bali's deputy police chief Ketut Untung Yoga Ana was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying. He said security at airports and seaports would be intensified at "the highest level" and additional security measures taken. At least 1,000 security personnel would be on hand for the commemoration ceremony, he said.

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Southeast Asia

Bashir says Papua bomb plot charges are unfair

2012-10-05

Convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir has denounced the police’s "lenient" action against members of a Papuan pro-independence group allegedly plotting a coordinated bombing attack, calling it proof that the government was waging war against Islam. Hasyim Abdullah, a lawyer for the firebrand cleric, said on Tuesday that Bashir was infuriated at the “unfairness” between his treatment and the handling of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) members who were reportedly planning a series of bombings in the province last week. He said, "This is proof that the police have acted unfairly [toward Bashir]. If it was Muslims arrested plotting that kind of thing, they would be branded terrorists and charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law. But because they’re not Muslims, they aren’t called terrorists and they don’t face terrorism charges." The nine KNPB members arrested last Saturday have all been charged with the illegal possession of firearms and explosives. They are alleged to have been behind a foiled scheme to bomb several key government targets in Wamena last Friday. The alleged targets included a municipal police station, two military bases, a ward office next to the district police headquarters, and the Baliem Bridge. During the operations to derail the coordinated attack and arrest the alleged perpetrators, police seized plastic explosives, pipe bombs, detonators, Molotov cocktails and gasoline. They also found Rp 13.6 million in cash and the banned Morning Star flag used by separatist groups. A human rights group has disputed the veracity of the police report, calling the evidence "fabricated." The KNPB has historically been considered a peaceful pro-independence group. But Hasyim said that Bashir thought the wealth of evidence warranted far more serious charges than those under the Emergency Law. He said, “It’s simply not fair. The war on terror that is being waged by the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is nothing less than an attack on Islam. If the perpetrators aren’t Muslim, the punishment is very different." Police have downplayed the cleric’s latest outburst, saying his claims are unfounded. Sr. Comr. Agus Rianto, a National Police spokesman, said Bashir was labeled a terrorist because the cases for which he was convicted were terrorist acts. He added it was still too early in the investigation into the Wamena case to be able to classify it as either a terrorist incident or a separatist incident.

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Down Under

Indonesian leader offers Australia olive branch: joint disaster exercises

2012-07-06

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is proposing joint disaster exercises between militaries in the Asia-Pacific region in an apparent signal that Jakarta will lower its rhetoric on a potential United States drone base and troop deployments to Australia. Indonesian officials initially said that the deployment would create tension and mistrust. During his two-day visit to Darwin, Yudhoyono made no mention of the deployment, while suggesting that nations in the region, including China, might join the US in planning disaster relief operations. Australia has promoted the US Marines' presence and Darwin's proximity to Indonesia as useful for emergency relief operations in case of future disasters or emergencies. Beijing, however, has been wary of Washington's intentions in the Asia-Pacific region, with hawkish voices in the Chinese military saying that the US has been intent on encircling China and frustrating its rise. Indonesia previously participated in a multi-nation military disaster relief exercise, hosting an event in Manado, North Sulawesi, involving 20 countries in 2011.

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Southeast Asia

Indonesia arrests suspect in suicide bombings

2011-10-03

JAKARTA - The Indonesian authorities said yesterday that they have captured one of their five most-wanted snuffies in connection with two suicide-kabooms this year. The suspect, identified as Beni Asri, was tossed in the clink on Friday at his home in the town of Solok in West Sumatra, about 930km from the capital Jakarta, said police front man Anton Bachrul Alam. Asri was brought to Jakarta to be questioned over a suicide kaboom on a church in the Central Java town of Solo on Sept 25 that injured at least 20 people. "We have a week to investigate," Mr Alam said. The 26-year-old is also one of five men wanted for allegedly plotting an April suicide kaboom that injured 30 coppers praying in a mosque in the West Java town of Cirebon. Police suspect Asri has connections with members of a group founded by Abu Bakar Bashir ... Leader of the Indonesian Mujahedeen Council and proprietor of the al-Mukmin madrassah in Ngruki. The spriritual head of Jemaah Islamiya, which he denies exists. Bashir was jugged and then released in the wake of the 2002 Bali bombings, which he blamed on a conspiracy among the U.S., Israel, and Australia ... , 73, the spiritual leader behind the 2002 Bali bombings, who was recently nabbed for 15 years for planning attacks against foreigners and moderate Mohammedans, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Indonesia has been hit by a string of suicide kabooms blamed on the Al Qaeda-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah and its offshoots since 2002, when the Bali bombings killed 202 people. Subsequent attacks targeting restaurants and hotels have been far less deadly, however, and the last occurred more than two years ago, thanks in large to a security crackdown. But bombings by solo "jihadis" targeting Christians, security officers and Islamic sects deemed blasphemous by hard-liners have continued. In a sign of the government's struggle to contain militancy, the authorities have blocked 300 Internet sites this year suspected of promoting terrorism and hatred. Critics say the President, who relies heavily on Islamic parties in Parliament, has remained largely silent as minorities have been attacked by hard-liners or seen their houses of worship torched or closed. Agencies

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