[wanita-muslimah] FW: INDONESIA: Female genital mutilation persists despite ban
-Original Message- From: IRIN [mailto:no-re...@irinnews.org] Sent: Thursday, 02 September, 2010 18:18 To: dharmawan ronodipuro Subject: INDONESIA: Female genital mutilation persists despite ban INDONESIA: Female genital mutilation persists despite ban JAKARTA, 2 September 2010 (IRIN) - Though the Indonesian government banned female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) [ http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/ ] four years ago, experts say religious support for the practice is more fervent than ever, particularly in rural communities. A lack of regulation since the ban makes it difficult to monitor, but medical practitioners say FGM/C remains commonplace for women of all ages in this emerging democracy of 240 million - the world's largest Muslim nation. Although not authorized by the Koran, the practice is growing in popularity. With increased urging of religious leaders, baby girls are now losing the top or part of their clitoris in the name of faith, sometimes in unsanitary rooms with tools as crude as scissors. We fear if [FGM/C] gets more outspoken support from religious leaders it will increase even more. We found in our latest research that not only female babies are being circumcised, but also older women ask for it, said Artha Budi Susila Duarsa, a university researcher at Yarsi University in Jakarta. While the procedure in Indonesia is not as severe as in parts of Africa [ http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=90218 ] and involves cutting less flesh, it still poses a serious health concern. Even a small wound on the genitals can lead to sexual, physiological and physical problems, Duarsa said. Indonesia forbade health officials from the practice in 2006 because they considered it a useless practice that could potentially harm women's health. However, the ban was quickly opposed by the Indonesian Ulema Council, the highest Islamic advisory body in Indonesia. In March this year, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization, issued an edict supporting FGM/C, though a leading cleric told the NU's estimated 40 million followers not to cut too much. It is against human rights, said Maria Ulfah Anshor, a women's rights activist and former chair of the women's wing of the NU. For women there is absolutely no benefit and advantage. Changing perceptions FGM/C traditionally existed as a sign of chastity; a symbolic practice performed by shamans, or local healers, who used crude methods such as rubbing and scraping. With shamans largely falling out of favour, the religious are turning to midwives who rely more on cutting instead. Midwives don't know what they are doing. They were never taught the practice at school, so they do the same with girls as with boys: they cut, Anshor said. During the 32-year Suharto dictatorship, outspoken religious expression was discouraged, but since his fall in 1998, people started looking for their religious identity, with stricter interpretations of Islam being adopted by scores of municipalities. More Indonesian Muslim women wear a headscarf now, claiming it is more accepted than it was 15 years ago. Forbidden, but unregulated The 2006 ban prohibited FGM/C, but in practice there is no oversight. Yarsi University researchers found that in spite of the ban, the practice continues unabated in hospitals and health centres. A midwife at a state hospital in Jakarta told IRIN on condition of anonymity that she cuts newborn girls: When mothers ask me to do it, I tell them about the upsides and downsides of circumcision, she said. But when asked to explain the benefits, she declined further comment. According to Yarsi University's research, most incidents happen in secret, sometimes unhygienic, back-street operating rooms - creating a big risk of infection. If there are problems, it is because the practice is not done in a sterile way, Duarsa said. An official standard? The demand for FGM/C makes it hard to control the practice, said Minister of Women's Empowerment Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar. That's why we encourage female circumcision to be medicalized and practiced by trained health personnel to avoid further harm. Gumelar is working with the Ministry of Health to make an unsafe practice safer, even though it is outlawed and has been condemned by a large number of treaties and conventions, and ratified by most governments of countries where FGM/C is present. The development dismays women's rights fighter Anshor. I would advise not to circumcise your daughters at all, Anshor said. If women are circumcised, people believe they become more beautiful and not as wild and will make men more excited in bed. For women themselves, they don't get any excitement at all. It is hard to tell what impact, if any, government action will have on people like grandmother Dede Jafar, who had never heard of the ban but does not like it. That is so sad because
[wanita-muslimah] NOUAKCHOTT, Sept 1, 2010 (AFP) - French suspect in planned Indonesia attack now in Mauritania
French suspect in planned Indonesia attack now in Mauritania NOUAKCHOTT, Sept 1, 2010 (AFP) - A French national accused by Indonesian authorities of having being involved in a planned attack in their country, is currently in Mauritania, the French embassy in Nouakchott said Wednesday. Frederic Jean Salvi, who goes under the alias Ali and denies the accusations, physically contacted the consular authorities at the embassy a few days ago and said he was living in Mauritania, a source at the embassy said on condition of anonymity. He said he was here and that he had nothing to do with the charges of which he is the object in Indonesia, added the source who did not report any arrest warrant or proceeding initiated against Salvi. On August 17 the head of counterterrorism at the Indonesian security ministry, Ansyaad Mbai, told AFP that Salvi had a history of militant extremism in France was reportedly working with Al-Qaeda militants to prepare attacks in Jakarta such as those carried out in 2008 in Bombay, India. During anti-terrorism raids on the western Indonesian island of Java on August 7, police arrested five suspects and seized explosives in an illegal bomb manufacturing workshop. They also found a car belonging to a French national believed to have been intended to commit a suicide car bomb. The police then announced they had sought assistance from Interpol to trace the owner of the vehicle. He (Salvi) helped the terrorists by giving them his car, Mbai alleged. We are investigating whether the car could have been used for a car bomb. Since the discovery last February of a terrorist training camp in Aceh, northern Sumatra, Indonesian police have arrested 102 people across the country of whom 70 are still in custody. Mauritania is one of the Sahel countries in which Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is active, and several kidnappings have taken place there. Last week an attempted suicide bombing at a military barracks in the east of the country was foiled by troops. hos/fb/rom Mauritania-Indonesia-France-attack AFP 011316 GMT SEP 10 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Financial Times, August 15 2010 - Opinion: Obama's brave r emarks reveal a true patriot
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/acd200a4-a898-11df-86dd-00144feabdc0.html Financial Times FT.com FT.com logo http://media.ft.com/t.gifOpinion Obama's brave remarks reveal a true patriot By Simon Schama Published: August 15 2010 19:29 | Last updated: August 15 2010 19:29 Has Barack Obama http://www.ft.com/indepth/obama-presidency just committed political suicide? By appearing to endorse the building of a mosque and Islamic cultural centre at the threshold of Ground Zero, has he set himself at odds with the majority http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a20e07a0-a8a0-11df-86dd-00144feabdc0.html of Americans who regard the idea as a desecration of hallowed ground? Beleaguered Democrats fighting a rearguard action in upcoming mid-term elections are shaking their heads at this new handicap with which the president has burdened them. Republican notables such as Newt Gingrich and Sarah Palin, jostling for position in the wannabe president stakes, can scarcely contain their glee. But the critics are deluded. If the quarrel over the mosque at Ground Zero turns into a debate on the sovereign principles of the American way of life, it is the president and Mayor Bloomberg who will emerge with honour, as the true custodians of what the founders had in mind. Freedom of conscience and religious practice, Mr Obama said at the Iftar dinner, and again in brief clarifying remarks, define who we are. And in reaffirming this bedrock principle, it is Mr Obama, not his enemies, who identifies himself as an authentic American patriot. This matters. In our present obsession with the fate of money (entirely understandable if you have a whole lot less of it than you once did), we forget that the reason why young men and women are putting themselves in the line of fire is precisely our resistance to fanaticism of the kind that imagined massacre, inflicted on a tolerant and secular society, to be a sacred duty. Against this, as the president pointed out, we may summon military force, but in the end it is the ideal of toleration that will always be our strongest weapon. Of the constitutive importance of religious freedom to the creation of America there can be no doubt. Mr Obama, as usual, has his history right, and wants it acknowledged even at the expense of political prudence. It was not the Jamestown settlers, in pursuit of overnight fortunes in Virginia, who created the American way. Their version of America perished along with their cupidity. It was refugees from an English church establishment who planted the flag of toleration on US soil. And for some it was never deep enough. The father of American toleration was Roger Williams, the founder of Providence Plantation, later Rhode Island. For Williams, the Calvinists of Massachusetts with their church courts, violated true christianity, which - in its purity - eschewed any civil regulation. It was Williams (not Jefferson) who first articulated the hedge between church and state. It is no accident, then, that Jews first found refuge in Newport, Rhode Island. Nor was it chance that almost exactly 220 years ago George Washington, campaigning for the adoption of the first amendment to the constitution, repeated the words of Moses Seixas, the warden of the Touro synagogue, that the US was a place that gave to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance. Six years later, at the end of Washington's second term, the Treaty of Tripoli, made with the Barbary states of north Africa - a document ratified by the Senate in June 1797 and signed by President Adams - also explicitly states in article 11 that as the government of the United States is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion. it has no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquillity of Mussulmen [sic]. But Thomas Jefferson is the founder who sticks in the craw of the sanctimonious American right. Jefferson believed in a creator, but not in the divinity of Jesus, much less the virgin birth, which he thought only as a fable. But most of all he believed that the Republic stood or fell by its absolute commitment to freedom of conscience. It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg, he wrote in his Notes on Virginia. Jefferson owned a Koran, and was fascinated by Islamic learning that he recognised to have been the medieval guardian of the classical wisdom he revered. His 1777 draft of the Virginia Statute on Religious Toleration is plangent in its fierce refusal to allow government any role in interference with freedom to think or worship how and where one wishes. Truth is great and will prevail if left to herself, he wrote. She is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate. We ought to commit these lines to memory, for they are why we fight; what distinguishes us from the
[wanita-muslimah] The New York Times, 17 August 2010 - Our Mosque Madness
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/opinion/18dowd.html?ref=maureendowd# http://www.nytimes.com/ http://www.nytimes.com/ The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/ _ August 17, 2010 Our Mosque Madness By MAUREEN DOWD http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/mau reendowd/index.html?inline=nyt-per WASHINGTON Maybe, for Barack Obama, it depends on what the meaning of the word is is. When the president skittered back from his grandiose declaration at an iftar celebration at the White House Friday that Muslims enjoy freedom of religion in America and have the right to build a mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan, he offered a Clintonesque parsing. I was not commenting, and I will not comment, on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there, he said the morning after he commented on the wisdom of making a decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That's what our country is about. Let me be perfectly clear, Mr. Perfectly Unclear President: You cannot take such a stand on a matter of first principle and then take it back the next morning when, lo and behold, Harry Reid goes craven and the Republicans attack. What is so frightening about Fox News? Some critics have said the ultimate victory for Osama and the 9/11 hijackers would be to allow a mosque to be built near ground zero. Actually, the ultimate victory for Osama and the 9/11 hijackers is the moral timidity that would ban a mosque from that neighborhood. Our enemies struck at our heart, but did they also warp our identity? The war against the terrorists is not a war against Islam. In fact, you can't have an effective war against the terrorists if it is a war on Islam. George W. Bush understood this. And it is odd to see Barack Obama less clear about this matter than his predecessor. It's time for W. to weigh in. This - along with immigration reform and AIDS in Africa - was one of his points of light. As the man who twice went to war in the Muslim world, he has something of an obligation to add his anti-Islamophobia to this mosque madness. W. needs to get his bullhorn back out. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are both hyper-articulate former law professors. But Clinton never presented himself as a moral guide to the country. So when he weaseled around, or triangulated on some issues, it was part of his ultra-fallible persona - and consistent with his identity as a New Democrat looking for a Third Way. But Obama presents himself as a paragon of high principle. So when he flops around on things like don't ask, don't tell or shrinks back from one of his deepest beliefs about the freedom of religion anywhere and everywhere in America, it's not pretty. Even worse, this is the man who staked his historical reputation on a new and friendlier engagement with the Muslim world. The man who extended his hand to Tehran has withdrawn his hand from Park Place. Paranoid about looking weak, Obama allowed himself to be weakened by perfectly predictable Republican hysteria. Which brings us to Newt Gingrich. Gingrich fancies himself an intellectual, a historian, a deep thinker - the opposite number, you might say, of Sarah Palin. Yet here is Gingrich attempting to out-Palin Palin on Fox News: Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust Museum in Washington. There is no more demagogic analogy than that. Have any of the screaming critics noticed that there already are two mosques in the same neighborhood - one four blocks away and one 12 blocks away. Should they be dismantled? And what about the louche liquor stores and strip clubs in the periphery of the sacred ground? By now you have to be willfully blind not to know that the imam in charge of the project, Feisal Abdul Rauf, is the moderate Muslim we have allegedly been yearning for. So look where we are. The progressive Democrat in the White House, the first president of the United States with Muslim roots, has been morally trumped by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, two moderate Republicans who have spoken bravely and lucidly about not demonizing and defaming an entire religion in the name of fighting its radicals. Criticizing his fellow Republicans, Governor Christie said that while he understood the pain and sorrow of family members who lost loved ones on 9/11, we cannot paint all of Islam with that brush. He charged the president with trying to turn the issue into a political football. But that is not quite right. It already was a political football and the president fumbled it. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Forbes.com, 18 August 2010 - Commentary: The National Security Mosque
From: Susan Sim [mailto:susan.lk@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, 19 August, 2010 09:16 To: dharmawan.ronodip...@gmail.com; Louisa Tuhatu Subject: Forbes Op-ed by Ali Soufan on Controversy over Mosque near WTC Forbes.com http://images.forbes.com/media/assets/forbes_logo_blue.gif Commentary The National Security Mosque Ali Soufan, 08.18.10, 12:40 PM ET The furor over the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero makes me think back to one of the most important lessons I learned from al Qaeda terrorists I interrogated--that they have a warped view of America. To them--and this they get from Osama Bin Laden's rhetoric--the U.S. is a country at war with Islam and Muslims, and so they had a duty to fight us. While I was serving on the frontlines I found that this distorted view of America was common among ordinary Muslims too, and it was only by correcting this image did we encourage locals to help our investigations and turn against al Qaeda. Our efforts were helped by public statements, like from President Bush in the days after 9/11, declaring that America was at war with al Qaeda and not with Islam. I was in Sana, Yemen, on that day, and I remember our military and law enforcement group feeling encouraged that our leadership understood how to frame our battle. But while we started off on the right note in dealing with the Muslim world, our leadership soon demonstrated that they failed to understand that our war against al Qaeda was not just a military fight, but an asymmetrical battle for the proverbial hearts and minds of Muslims across the world too. We should have been highlighting that al Qaeda has killed thousands of Muslims and blown up dozens of mosques around the world. But instead we failed to appreciate the importance of rebutting al Qaeda's propaganda and of turning ordinary Muslims against the terror network. When we eventually did this, we had great successes. As commander in Iraq Gen. Petraeus reached out to local Sunni groups and convinced them that al Qaeda was their enemy and America their friend. That led to a remarkable turnaround in our fortunes in Iraq. He is now trying to do the same in Afghanistan. Just this weekend Meet the Press reported that when Gen. Petraeus learned that the Taliban attacked a mosque near the border with Pakistan, he ordered it to be publicized among the local population. There are many reasons for supporting the Muslim community's right to build a cultural center and mosque on private property, not least of all the First Amendment of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion. But from a national security perspective, our leaders need to understand that no one is likely to be happier with the opposition to building a mosque than Osama Bin Laden. His next video script has just written itself. The potential damage to our national security is not only to our work abroad, but at home too. Today in America we are facing an increased threat of homegrown terrorism. While Bin Laden couldn't find a single American-Muslim to be part of the 9/11 plot, today, thanks to mixture of poor (and even harmful) leadership within the American-Muslim community and failed strategies from our government in dealing with the threat, some young Muslims are finding themselves increasingly isolated and marginalized--and are becoming easy prey for radicals. When demagogues appear to be equating Islam with terrorism, it's making young Muslims unsure about their place in the country. It bolsters the message that radicalizers are selling: That the war is against Islam, and Muslims are not welcome in America. As a Muslim-American, I know that isn't true. Whatever some rabble-raising politicians say about one mosque doesn't trump what America really stands for--the values enshrined by our constitution that guarantee equality and freedom for all, whatever your race, religion or creed. Young American-Muslims need to focus on comments by leaders like Mayor Bloomberg, whose stand on the issue exemplifies the very best in American leadership: educating people and standing up for the values of our Constitution, rather than playing on fear and ignorance. It is because of the principles enshrined in our constitution that thousands of American-Muslims, like Americans from all races and religions, volunteer to serve our country in the military, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The Pledge of Allegiance, ending one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, is a constant reminder that America is worth fighting for. _ To those politicians now saying a mosque can't be built near Ground Zero, I would like them to take a walk through Arlington Cemetery and learn the names and stories of American-Muslims who have died in service to our country. They should also learn a bit more about the victims of 9/11, such as Mohammad Salman Hamdani, a Muslim-American who was a New York City Police cadet and paramedic. When he saw
[wanita-muslimah] The Australian, August 14, 2010 12:00AM -- Indonesia terror optimism premature
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/indonesia-terror-optimism-prematu re/story-e6frg6so-1225905060507 Indonesia terror optimism premature * Sally Neighbour * From: The Australian http://www.theaustralian.com.au/ * August 14, 2010 12:00AM IN September 2005, former foreign minister Gareth Evans famously announced the militant group Jemaah Islamiah had been decimated. Four days later, JI recruits detonated bomb-laden backpacks at restaurants in Kuta and Jimbaran Bay, Bali, leaving 23 people dead and 102 wounded. Last month, the think tank Evans used to head, the International Crisis Group, reported in its latest assessment: The jihadi project has failed in Indonesia. There is no indication that violent extremism is gaining ground. But while there is no doubting the success of Indonesia's counter-terrorism efforts -- or the ICG's unrivalled expertise on the subject -- the events surrounding this week's arrest of militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, amid revelations of new plans for terrorist bombings, suggest the latest optimistic projection may also prove premature. The trail of evidence that led to Bashir shows the ever-evolving jihadi movement is alive and flourishing, still able to recruit and train new foot soldiers, raise funds, source weapons and explosives and make advanced plans for attacks. It indicates the recent lull in activity has signified a strategic regrouping rather than its demise. The question is not whether they still have the intent and capacity to carry out atrocities, but only how long it will take them to do so again. The events immediately leading to Bashir's detention began in February, when police discovered a new militant training camp in the northwestern province of Aceh. It was headed by legendary JI fugitive Dulmatin, an Afghan-trained militant and one of the original Bali bombers, who had evaded capture since 2002. The Aceh operation represented a third wave of Indonesian jihadism and a coming together of virtually every known militant organisation in Indonesia to kickstart the jihadi movement all over again. It is chronicled in compelling detail in two ICG reports, Jihadi Surprise in Aceh and The Dark side of Jama'ah Ansharut Tauhid, published in April and last month. JAT is the organisation Bashir founded in 2008, two years after his release from prison, after falling out with colleagues in his old group, the Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia, who didn't like the personality cult being built around Bashir. The cleric had also been criticised by the younger firebrands of JI for being too soft. So he formed JAT to, in its own words, revitalise the Islamic movement in support of full victory for the struggle. Its senior membership included close associates of the bombing mastermind Noordin Top, killed by Indonesian police last September. While Bashir publicly disavowed terrorism, there were reports JAT had a secret military wing and a jihadist agenda it deliberately kept hidden. Former Australian JI member and Bashir follower Jack Roche, who served 4 1/2 years in prison over a plot to bomb the Israeli embassy in Canberra, says Bashir follows the Islamic principle that deception in war is valid, which explains his not guilty of anything stand. Bashir's former follower, Dulmatin, had returned to Indonesia in 2007 as an iconic figure in the jihadist movement because of his training in Afghanistan, combat experience in Mindanao and the $US10 million bounty placed on his head by the US government. Dulmatin's plan was to unite the various militant groups, establish a new base in Aceh, refocus on securing an Islamic state in Indonesia and shift away from terrorist attacks aimed at foreigners towards targeted assassinations of Indonesian officials who stood in the way. Indonesian police say it was Bashir who appointed Dulmatin to this role, raised funds for the Aceh training program and oversaw its development. The venture, which branded itself al-Qa'ida in Aceh, was blown open after a villager reported strange activity in the forest. Police swooped, arrested 48 people and killed eight, including Dulmatin, who was shot dead in Jakarta on March 9. Two months later, three senior members of Bashir's JAT were arrested and accused of raising $155,000 to fund the Aceh project, making it one of the most costly operations ever by an Indonesian jihadist group. As the arrests continued, police said they had uncovered a plot to assassinate President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and senior government members in a guerilla-style attack on the presidential palace on Independence Day, this Tuesday, to be modelled on the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which Islamists killed 173 people. In another raid in West Java last Saturday, police arrested five men, including a chemical engineer, and seized explosives and bomb-making tools. Police spokesman Edward Aritonang told a press conference in Jakarta on Monday the men had plans to bomb more than two foreign embassies,
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, 13 August 2010 - Inside the Jihad: Terrorism Still Casting a Long Shadow
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/inside-the-jihad-terrorism-still-cast ing-a-long-shadow/391051 Inside the Jihad: Terrorism Still Casting a Long Shadow Muh Taufiqurrohman | August 13, 2010 The police's elite Densus 88 counterterrorism unit arrested five alleged terrorists in West Java this past week, and while Abu Bakar Bashir grabbed the headlines, three of the others, Abdul Ghofur, Fakhrul Rozi Tanjung and Kurnia Widodo, who are connected to a Bandung-based radical group known as Jamaah As Sunnah, caught my eye. I met these guys during my field research and shared meals with them at weekly religious gatherings and during paramilitary training. I first met Ghofur in 2006 at the JAS headquarters in Bandung, located at the As Sunnah Mosque, where radicals from Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia and Jemaah Islamiyah joined JAS cadres for joint paramilitary training. Being close to Ustadz Dudung, a JI member and military veteran of Afghanistan, Ghofur was quick to express his radical views and determination to fight what he called Islam's enemies: the American government and its allies. In 2007, I met Fakhrul, who was introduced to JAS by Izzul, who also goes by Abu Ibrahim, a university graduate who trained radicals in mountaineering skills. When Fakhrul joined the group, he was new to the jihadi movement and was seen as cowardly by other members. One day, he and a man called Kliwon purchased an air gun for rifle training. Fakhrul was scared to death when asked to carry the gun, which was not even a lethal weapon. I met the third man, Kurnia, in October 2007 when JAS leader Ustadz Lesmana introduced him to me. Kurnia said he was looking for a new home for his radical activities because he saw his previous group, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, as hypocritical, too political and ignorant of Muslim suffering. When Lesmana asked his followers about Kurnia, some suggested he might be a threat to the group because his father-in-law was believed to be an employee of a company that made weapons for the Army. Boasting about his graduate degree in chemical engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) though, Kurnia impressed Lesmana and he was eventually accepted into the group. He was assigned to teach bomb making. When, in 2008, two members of JAS were planning to kill an American citizen in Bandung, Fakhrul and Kurnia distanced themselves from the planning. I believe they were too scared of getting caught. Kurnia even urged Lesmana to confiscate a rifle to be used in the murder. As the two became more deeply involved with JAS, they also became more radical and more active in jihadi sermons, paramilitary training and bomb-making classes. On many occasions, Fakhrul in particular sought out rifles or pistols. Meanwhile, Kurnia taught bomb making using the infamous Anarchist Cookbook, obtained online. In addition, they got to know more radicalized members from other groups such as MMI, JI and, more recently, Bashir's Jamaah Anshorut Tauhid. That's how they met Ghofur. Interestingly, although I saw other, older JAS members as more radicalized, it was Fakhrul and Kurnia who were to become committed to terrorism. The way things played out with Ghofur, Fakhrul and Kurnia, holds important lessons for the security agencies. When monitoring radical groups, new members who come with skills or money need to be looked at very closely. Despite their lack of background in jihadist theory, these kinds of new members usually encourage older members to commit terrorism, and often provide the means by which to do so. It is important for security agencies to act quickly to remove dangerous newcomers from the group and have them undertake some kind of deradicalisation program. This must be done before any terrorist act is committed. Meanwhile, agencies also need to handle the religious teachers who radicalize inexperienced activists and often become the masterminds behind eventual terrorist acts. Agencies must not let these supposed teachers get away with their crimes. If they are not proven to be directly involved with terrorism, that does not mean they are not responsible. Finally, the security agencies should treat every radical group seriously, no matter how small they are, by infiltrating and isolating them from other groups. When they are just starting out, radical cells are at their most dangerous because they exist under the radar, preparing and waiting for a chance to attack. In 2005, JAS itself was talking about bombing the American Embassy in Jakarta, and throughout 2006-2008 they constantly discussed bombing the Australian Embassy and Jakarta malls, as well as killing foreign diplomats, foreign citizens, a priest and West Java Police officers. Had they had sufficient money and equipment, they may well have carried out these plans and caught us by surprise. Muh Taufiqurrohman is a researcher at the Indonesian Institute for Strategic Studies.
[wanita-muslimah] Jawa Pos, 13 Agustus 2010 - Ba'asyir dan Pemikiran Radikal
http://www.jawapos.co.id/halaman/index.php?act=detailnid=149865 http://www.jawapos.co.id/imgs/jplogo2010.jpg Jum'at, 13 Agustus 2010 Opini [ Kamis, 12 Agustus 2010 ] Ba'asyir dan Pemikiran Radikal Oleh Yayan Sopyani Al Hadi DALAM sebuah dialog di MetroTV (Selasa, 10/8), mantan Panglima Laskar Jihad Ja'far Umar Thalib menyesatkan pemikiran-pemikiran radikal Amir Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) Abu Bakar Ba'syir. Dia bersaksi, pola pikir yang digunakan dan disebarkan Ba'asyir menggunakan logika takfir. Artinya, mengafirkan orang di luar kelompoknya. Ja'far menyebut mantan amir Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia (MMI) dan pengikutnya itu sebagai generasi Khawarij. Dari pernyataan Ja'far tersebut, dapat ditarik dua kesimpulan sekaligus. Pertama, Ja'far mengingatkan bahaya laten kelompok Khawarij yang doyan mengafirkan pihak lain. Dalam sejarah awal Islam, Khawarij muncul ketika terjadi pergolakan politik antara pemimpin Islam yang sah, Ali bin Abi Thalib, dan pemberontak Mu'awiyyah bin Abi Sufyan. Khawarij awalnya merupakan pendukung Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib. Namun, setelah Imam Ali melakukan perjanjian dengan Muawiyyah, Khawarij menolak kesepakatan damai (tahkim) tersebut dan keluar dari barisan Imam Ali. Khawarij berasal dari kata kharaja yang berarti keluar. Dengan menuduh melanggar hukum Tuhan, pengikut Khawarij membunuh Imam Ali bin Abi Thalib dan bersembunyi di gurun-gurun pasir. Mereka melakukan kekerasan terhadap umat Islam yang berbeda keyakinan dan pendapatnya. Tidak jarang, tindakan mereka berakhir dengan pertumpahan darah. Kelompok Khawarij mengklaim sebagai satu-satunya juru bicara Islam yang paling otoriter dibanding kelompok lain. Mereka mengutuk kelompok yang dianggap telah melenceng dan meleset dari fondasi agama yang benar. Mereka, dengan mengungkapkan hak istimewa lebih tinggi yang didasarkan pada kebenaran agama, membenarkan tuntutan agar etika yang berlaku dalam kelompoknya ditingkatkan menjadi suatu moralitas bersama. Mereka juga menuntut dogmanya dipaksakan dengan cara apa pun, temasuk pembunuhan. Mereka berkeyakinan dan memastikan bahwa kebenaran agama yang tunggal diturunkan dengan cara yang tidak bisa dipertanyakan. Kaum Khawarij meyakini bahwa kebahagiaan dan kesempurnaan atau tujuan akhir agama adalah monopoli satu golongan tertentu atau bisa dicapai dengan meniti worldview (minhaj) dan the way of life (manhaj) kelompok tertentu. Kelompok lain juga membawa hakikat dan kebenaran, tapi hanya ada satu pemahaman yang membentangkan jalan kebahagiaan. Penganut ajaran kelompok lain, dalam pandangan Khawarij, walaupun keberagamaannya baik dan akhlaknya benar dalam sisi kemanusiaan, mereka tetap tidak bisa selamat. Karena itu, untuk meraih keselamatan, mereka harus meraih jalan sebagaimana yang ditempuh kelompok Khawarij. Argumentasi Khawarij itu didukung teologi fatalistik (aqidah jabariyah) yang menyatakan bahwa wajib mengimani Allah, tapi tidak berdasar akal. Kewajiban tersebut penting karena Allah telah memerintah kita untuk mengenali-Nya melalui nash. Corak pembuktian teologis itu menciptakan daur ulang yang tak berujung (circular reason). Imanilah Tuhan karena Tuhan telah memerintahkannya dalam nash. Padahal, kita tidak tahu siapakah Tuhan itu(?). Berbeda dari aliran Syiah yang menganggap kewajiban mengimani Allah dan menaati segala perintah-Nya adalah kerja akal. Pengenalan terhadap Tuhan harus didasari dan diawali oleh nalar rasional (aql burhani). Aliran teologi jabariyah menyatakan bahwa keselamatan hanya terdapat dalam lingkup karunia dan Inayah Ilahi. Ada pun upaya manusia (kasb) untuk mencapai keselamatan itu dianggap sia-sia dan tidak akan berhasil. Karena itu, konsekuensi dari keselamatan tersebut adalah harus mengetahui manifestasi sumber keselamatan. Manifestasi itu hanya didapat dan hanya bisa diketahui dari pemahaman nash yang tekstual. Tekstualisme merupakan episteme dengan metodologi pemikiran tekstual-eksplanatif (bayani) yang menjadikan teks suci sebagai otoritas penuh untuk memberikan arah dan arti kebenaran (Abed Al- Jabiry, 1991). Para tekstualis itu memahami nash Alquran dan as-sunnah dengan berpegang pada redaksi teks yang partikular dan terkurung pada lokalitas. Sementara itu, akal, bagi mereka, hanya digunakan sebagai pengaman ototitas teks tersebut. Karena itu, ketika berhadapan dengan teks lain atau pemahaman terhadap teks yang berbeda, mereka mengambil sikap mental yang dogmatik, defensif, dan apologetik. Begitu juga ketika berhadapan dengan the other yang berwujud peradaban yang modern, kosmopolit, sekuler, rasional, dan realitif, tindak kekerasan menjadi solusi terbaik bagi mereka untuk menyelesaikan problem sosial. Apakah ide Khawarij Ba'asyir sebagaimana yang disebutkan Ja'far berkaitan dengan teror seperti yang ditudingkan Mabes Polri? Tentu, dugaan keterlibatan Abu Bakar Ba'asyir dalam gerakan terorisme di Indonesia menjadi wilayah kepolisian. Dengan catatan, polisi tidak bisa menghakimi pemikiran-pemikiran Ba'asyir,
[wanita-muslimah] JAKARTA, June 23 (Reuters) - Indonesia nabs Islamist preacher; one dead in raids
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSJAK59920 http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters Indonesia nabs Islamist preacher; one dead in raids Wed, Jun 23 2010 JAKARTA, June 23 (Reuters) - Indonesia's anti-terror police swooped on militants in a series of raids on Java island on Wednesday, killing one and arresting three, including the country's most wanted Islamist preacher, a police source said. We captured three today, including Abdullah Sonata. One was killed during an exchange of fire, a highly-placed source from the police's anti-terror unit Detachment 88 told Reuters, adding that Sonata was found in possession of weapons. Police in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, had put Sonata at the top of their most wanted list. He was sought for his role in planning a jungle militant training camp in Aceh region -- on the northwestern tip of Sumatra island to the west of Java -- and for recruiting new members. Indonesia's Metro TV said police also discovered documents that showed militants were planning to attack the Danish embassy in Jakarta, but the police source declined to confirm the report. Denmark has been a frequent target of Islamist militants in various countries following the publication in a Danish newspaper in 2005 of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. In May, police said a group had set up a paramilitary training camp in Aceh and planned to launch a series of attacks. These included a Mumbai-style hotel siege targeting foreigners and an assault on the president and foreign guests at an independence day ceremony in August. [ID:nJAK214087] Sonata had previously been arrested in 2004 for concealing information about Noordin Mohammad Top, the head of a violent splinter of Islamic group Jemaah Islamiah, blamed for a string of bomb attacks against Western symbols over the past 10 years. He was released in March 2009. (Reporting by Olivia Rondonuwu; Editing by Neil Chatterjee and Ron Popeski) C Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to colleagues, clients or customers, use the Reprints tool at the top of any article or visit: www.reutersreprints.com http://www.reutersreprints.com/ . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Star Online, Sunday June 20, 2010 - All-out effort needed against JI activities
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/20/focus/6508670sec=focus The Star Online http://thestar.com.my/default.asp Focus Sunday June 20, 2010 All-out effort needed against JI activities THE STAR SAYS... LATELY, there has been disconcerting news that Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), identified internationally as a terrorist group, is expanding its activities even here in Malaysia. However, the Home Ministry has assured Malaysians there is nothing to worry about. While it is comforting to know that the authorities are on top of the situation, there should also be no room for a dangerous complacency. If JI is indeed being watched and tracked, then there is no need for undue alarm. However, the situation demands constant vigilance, since the group is known to be wily and to change its tactics. JI activity in Malaysia is not new. It is known to have a membership following here, besides establishing a madrasah in Johor in the 1990s. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said JI was not linked to established Malaysian political organisations. But they may well want to do that for propaganda and proselytising purposes, so it could come down to the authorities having to continue to foil their efforts in that direction. Musa said police had thwarted JI's attempts to blow up two places of worship in the country six months ago. While keeping their channels of information open, police will need to continue frustrating such dastardly attempts. Malaysia has tried long and hard to preserve national unity through our various ethnic and religious identities. This is a work in progress that must continue with co-operation between the public and authorities. JI has also reportedly been trying to recruit university students here for jihad missions abroad. Wherever they are directed to strike, no Malaysian student should have to be so deranged as to succumb. When approached, students should play along only for so long as to report their contacts to the authorities. These canvassing interlocutors need to be removed from society root and branch. The authorities also need to investigate why some students succumb to the purveyors of doom. Whatever inducements or blandishments offered must be neutralised comprehensively and systemically. An effective campaign against terrorist activities must also be unhindered by specific labels. Terrorism can and does come in various guises, and even now may span more than just JI. _ C 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Star Online, Wednesday June 16, 2010 - Militant recruitment of students monitored
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/6/16/nation/6480583sec=nati on The Star Online http://thestar.com.my/default.asp Wednesday June 16, 2010 Militant recruitment of students monitored GEORGE TOWN: The Inspector-General of Police will meet vice-chancellors of public and private universities to curb any rise in extremism among students in higher education institutions. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he was informed that the IGP would give a detailed briefing to the vice-chancellors during the meeting, which is expected to be held soon. This is a matter that cannot be treated lightly. I am sure the police has sufficient information and evidence on the movement of this group among students ... and we don't want this to affect national security, he said after opening a four-day St George's Girls School International Students Conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia yesterday. Muhyiddin was commenting on a news report in a Malay daily yesterday which reported that foreign members of the militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) were on a recruitment drive of Malaysian students. In Johor Baru, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the ministry was seriously looking into the matter as no students should be involved with terrorist groups. Serious action will be taken against any students who are involved. It is first and foremost in violation of the University Act, which prohibits students from joining in illegal activities, he said. Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Home Ministry had confirmed the presence of Islamic and non-Islamic militant groups as well as those promoting the political ideology of their country of origin. Its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said intelligence work found that these groups were also using Malaysia for their financial transactions and exchange of information. _ C 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Defeating Terrorism: What Indonesia Can Teach The World - Time, Monday, 7 June 2010 - The Right Might
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1992246,00.html http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1992246,00.html http://www.time.com/time http://img.timeinc.net/time/i/logo_time_print.gif Monday, Jun. 07, 2010 The Right Might By Hannah Beech / Semarang The arrests came as fast as drops of monsoon rain. On Feb. 22, more than 100 Indonesian special police raided a terrorist training camp deep in the jungles of Sumatra island. Within days they captured 14 suspected Islamic militants from a shadowy group called al-Qaeda in Aceh that was believed to have been planning an imminent attack. Then, on March 9, the police converged on an Internet café near the Indonesian capital Jakarta and engaged in a firefight that killed Dulmatin, an Afghan-trained explosives expert with a U.S.-designated $10 million bounty on his head. Among other attacks, Dulmatin was thought to have masterminded the blasts that struck two nightclubs on the vacation island of Bali in 2002, leaving 202 people dead, mostly foreigners. By April 12, the police dragnet had nabbed 10 more extremists, including a suspect in the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta. Another fanatic, who allegedly decapitated three Christian schoolgirls back in 2005, died in another shoot-out. All told, 48 suspected terrorists were caught within a seven-week period and another eight killed. In May, a further 16 suspects were arrested and five killed as police foiled a plot to assassinate Indonesia's President and visiting foreign dignitaries. Detachment 88 had done it again. Indonesia is waging one of the world's most determined campaigns against terrorism and much of the credit goes to the country's American-trained police unit Detachment 88. The horror and audacity of the Bali bombings proved to be an epiphany for Indonesians, alerting them to the homegrown extremists in their midst and helping forge a national consensus against terrorism. The following year, Detachment 88 was set up with the backing of the U.S. and Australian governments; today, it numbers 400 personnel drawn from the elite of the Indonesian police's special-operations forces and it has built up an extensive intelligence network to nab terrorists. Undercover operations in which agents pose as itinerant noodle vendors or new members of a Muslim prayer group enable Detachment 88 to track extremists and convince some to inform on others. Once top militants are located, explosives specialists, snipers, forensics teams and surveillance experts take position. I've trained guys all over the world, and this unit is one of the best I've ever seen, says one former trainer of the Indonesian counterterrorism squad. http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1982086,00.html (See pictures of the battle against the Taliban.) But Detachment 88 is more than a shooting machine. In the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, cracking down on terrorism isn't just about cracking heads. Through deradicalization programs, Detachment 88 agents take on the role of spiritual counselors, working to convince militants of the error of their ways. Some convicted terrorists now cooperate with the police in community outreach programs. You want to know why Indonesia has done well fighting terrorism? says psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono, who instructs Detachment 88 officers in interrogation tactics. We have no Guantánamo prisons. Our police understand the terrorists' psyches. Other countries can learn from what we do. A nation of 17,000 islands spread across more than 5,000 km, Indonesia might seem too sprawling, messy and diverse to efficiently combat terrorism. While its 210 million Muslim faithful are overwhelmingly moderate, a small band of radicals is calling for Indonesia to abandon its secular underpinnings for an Islamic state. Chief among them are members of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the militant group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings, among other attacks. JI and other splinter factions were formed by Indonesians with battlefront experience in Afghanistan and the insurgent-wracked southern Philippines. Most Indonesians display little of the reflexive anti-American sentiment common in a country like Pakistan witness the suspected role of the Taliban in the failed Times Square car-bomb plot. But the Indonesian mercenaries returned home believing that the West, and the U.S. in particular, was the root of all evil. The fact that Indonesia is neither at war with its neighbors nor harboring a persecuted Muslim minority makes little difference to these hard-liners. They preach that Indonesians have forgotten the core of Islam, says Noor Huda Ismail, founder of the Institute of International Peace Building in Jakarta, which aims to deradicalize former terrorism inmates. Their message is simple: the only way for Indonesians to prove themselves as good Muslims is through jihad against the infidel Americans and their allies.
[wanita-muslimah] Public Radio International, 29 March 2010 -- Cell phone use and cancer
http://www.pri.org/health/cell-phone-use-and-cancer1926.html Cell phone use and cancer From PRI's Living on Earth 29 March, 2010 07:05:00 Listen Now http://stream.loe.org/audio/100319/100319cellphone.mp3 Listen Now image(Image by Flickr user Ed Yourdon (cc: by-nc-sa)) Public health advocates say there's enough information linking cell phone use to cancer to warrant warning labels. This story is adapted from a broadcast audio segment; use audio player to listen to story in its entirety. Forty-five years ago, cigarette packages started carrying a label warning that smoking may be hazardous to your health. Cell phones could be next, as lawmakers in Maine and California are considering some sort of label on cell phones -- or the packaging they come in -- warning of possible health risks. The science around cell phone use is still emerging and assessment of a health risk is highly controversial. The National Cancer Institute says there is not evidence of a health threat. But some pamphlets that come with cell phones instruct users to keep the device at least .98 inches from their body when the device is turned on and connected to a wireless network. Dr. David Carpenter, who directs the Institute for Health and Environmental Safety at the University at Albany, says the instruction indicates that cell phone manufacturers are aware that there's a potential threat of dangerous levels of radio frequency radiation from the devices. They're dealing with specific absorption rate, or SAR, and that's the regulatory standard and it's based on the intensity of radio frequency radiation that would cause tissue heating. Cell phones use basically microwaves, it's the same kind of radiation that cooks your potato in the oven, and you don't really want to cook your brain while you're talking on your cell phone. Carpenter say there's enough information to warrant caution and warning labels. There's increasingly strong evidence that adults that have used a cell phone intensively for 10 or more years are at significantly greater risk of getting a brain tumor, but only on the side of the head where they use the cell phone. And some evidence for cancer of the salivary gland that's in the cheek. Again, only on the side of the head where the individuals use the cell phone. Now, what's really frightening is research that was just published a few months ago from Sweden that shows if you're under the age of 20 when you begin to use a cell phone, the risks are five times greater than if you start as an adult. He adds that another study, from Scandinavia, found an increase in prostate cancer in men that use cell phones. He believes this stems from men keeping their phones on their belt or in their pocket. So, they're simply irradiating their pelvis and not their brain. So it's likely that it's not just brain cancer we need to be concerned about, but we should try to keep the cell phone off of any part of our body when we're using it. Carpenter suggests using an earpiece and keeping the devices away from the body. He recommends that children be limited in their use of cell phones. While he admits that there currently isn't enough information to determine the extent of the health risks, Carpenter says it's best to be cautious. Are we going to be facing an epidemic of brain cancer in 10 or 20 years? We know from a variety of other studies with various environmental exposures that the latency for developing brain cancer after an environmental insult is often 20 or 30 years. So this is just another reason to be cautious. Hosted by Steve Curwood, Living on Earth is an award-winning environmental news program that delves into the leading issues affecting the world we inhabit. More http://www.pri.org/../living-on-earth.html Living on Earth. C Copyright 2010 Public Radio International. All rights reserved. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: Fleishman-Hillard opens Jakarta office - Media
From: Tuhatu, Louisa [mailto:louisa.tuh...@fleishman.com] Sent: Monday, 22 March, 2010 15:22 To: ronodip...@cbn.net.id Subject: Fleishman-Hillard opens Jakarta office - Media http://www.media.asia/newsarticle/2010_03/Fleishman-Hillard-opens-Jakarta-o ffice/39265 http://www.media.asia/newsarticle/2010_03/Fleishman-Hillard-opens-Jakarta-of fice/39265 Louisa Tuhatu Vice President and General Manager Fleishman-Hillard | Digital. Integrated. Global. Hero Building II, 7th Floor, Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto 177A Kav.64, Jakarta 12870 Tel: +62.21.829.8768 | Fax: +62.21.831.7786 | Mobile: +62.811.921.547 http://www.fleishman.com www.fleishman.com An Omnicom Group Company * Dharmawan Ronodipuro Jalan Asem Dua, Kompleks Bali Village M9, Cipete Selatan Jakarta 12410 Indonesia Tel/Fax: +62 21 7501514 Mobile: +62 81 8956086 E-mail: mailto:ronodip...@cbn.net.id ronodip...@cbn.net.id mailto:dharmawan_ronodip...@ireland.com dharmawan_ronodip...@ireland.com dharmawan.ronodip...@gmail.com Skype: dharmawan_ronodipuro Yahoo: dharmawan_ronodipuro http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=713989001 http://dronodipuro.bebo.com/ http://dronodipuro.bebo.com http://profiles.friendster.com/dronodipuro http://profiles.friendster.com/dronodipuro Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity Tree imagePlease remember the environment before printing. This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed and may contain privileged information. If you have received this e-mail in error please delete it from your system, do not use or disclose the information in any way, notify me immediately, and destroy any printed copy of it. Any unauthorized use, review, retransmission, dissemination, distribution, printing or copying of this message or any part thereof is strictly prohibited. E-mails are susceptible to alteration. I shall not be liable for the message if altered, changed or falsified, nor shall I accept liability for damages of any kind resulting from the risks inherent in the electronic transmission of messages. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] BusinessWorld Online, Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Wanted bomber still in Sulu, says officer
http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=7772 http://www.bworldonline.com/index.html BusinessWorld Online http://www.bworldonline.com/images/xtrans.gif http://www.bworldonline.com/images/xtrans.gif Nation BY , Reporter Wanted bomber still in Sulu, says officer ZAMBOANGA CITY -- A military officer confirmed yesterday that Umar Patek, a known Indonesian bomber, is still in the island-province of Sulu aided by homegrown terrorist group Abu Sayyaf. Lt. Gen. Benjamin D. Dolorfino, Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) chief, said intelligence reports said Umar Patek is still hiding on one of the islands that surround Sulu, which is known as a bandit stronghold. Ever since, he has been hiding there, he told BusinessWorld. The reaction came as Indonesia-based terrorism analyst Noor Huda Ismail claimed that Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who are leaders of the Jemaah Islamiyah group, returned to Indonesia in recent months. Umar Patek and Dulmatin were tagged in the deadly bombing in the Indonesia resort-island of Bali that killed nearly 200 mostly foreign tourists in 2002. For years, both terrorist leaders were reported to have sought refuge in Mindanao under the watch of the Abu Sayyaf. But last week, Indonesian authorities successfully neutralized Dulmatin, along with his two bodyguards, during a raid in a small Internet café in Aceh. In a report posted at the Jakarta Post Web site, Ismail, who is also director of the Institute for International Peace Building, said that both terrorist leaders traveled from Mindanao. But this was refuted by Indonesian National Police detective chief Ito Sumardi, saying that Umar Patek has not left Mindanao. Mr. Dolorfino said they have yet to get an official word from Indonesian authorities on recent developments. So far, we have not received information that Patek went out of the country, he said. Our operations are continuing. The military has recently raided one of the Abu Sayyaf lairs in Siasai, also in Sulu, resulting in the killing of five persons believed to be bandits. Lt. Esteffani A. Cacho, WestMinCom spokesman, said the raid was launched following information that some members of the Jemaah Islamiyah were hiding with Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Benhur. Abu Benhur has been earlier reported as coddling Jemaah Islamiyah bomber Marwan, who is believed hiding in one of the islets in Sulu, said Brig. General Rustico O. Guerrero, military commander of the anti-terrorist Joint Task Force Comet. The killing of Dulmatin and Abu Sayyaf leader Albader Parad last month have resulted in both Indonesian and Philippine authorities claiming success in counterterrorism efforts. -- Darwin T. Wee Story Location: http://www.bworldonline.com/main/content.php?id=7772 http://www.bworldonline.com/images/xtrans.gif http://www.bworldonline.com/images/xtrans.gif http://www.bworldonline.com/images/xtrans.gif Copyright © BusinessWorld Onine, Inc. All rights reserved. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, 13 March 2010 - Abu Jibril, an inured, overlooked hardliner
http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Abu Jibril, an inured, overlooked hardliner Rendi A. Witular , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/13/2010 10:19 AM | National Beware of terrorists among us reads a welcome banner upon entering the Witana Harja housing complex in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten. It was installed by law enforcers more than six months ago following the arrest of Muhammad Jibril, the son of firebrand cleric Muhammad Iqbal Abdurrahman, widely known as Abu Jibril. Muhammad was arrested for allegedly helping finance attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in July last year. Since his arrest, and because of his background, it is hard for law enforcers or the complex's residents to overlook his father when any terrorist incidents occur. The US State Department said in 2003 that Abu Jibril was Jamaah Islamiyah's (JI) primary recruiter and second-in-command after firebrand cleric Abubakar Ba'asyir. The recent raids have again dragged Jibril into the spotlight as it was his follower, Fauzi, now a police fugitive, who allegedly harbored Dulmatin, the notorious JI field leader killed by police less than one kilometer from Jibril's house on Tuesday. Jibril confirmed Tuesday that Fauzi was his follower, but insisted he did not know Dulmatin. He has been living in the complex since November 2005, thanks to Ba'asyir henchman Sutisna, who, according to neighborhood cleric Abdurrahman Assegaf, set him up with accommodation. Jibril, born in 1957, was a student of the Al-Mukmin boarding school in Ngruki, Central Java, founded by Ba'asyir and Abdullah Sungkar. He now runs the arrahmah.com, a radical jihad movement news portal, and leads an exclusive prayer group of middle- and upper-income Pamulang residents. The group was formed in 2006 when Jibril took over the Al-Munawwarah mosque from local residents. Ba'asyir regularly preaches at Jibril's prayer meetings, advocating a jihadist movement. Before [Jibril] came here, the people had a very strong bond. We used to hold social and religious activities together, said Rangga Baihaqi, 25, who lives in the same block as Jibril. But now there's a polarization between followers of Jibril's congregation and those who aren't. In some of his sermons I heard Jibril call non-followers infidels. He said participants of Al-Munawarah's congregations were mostly outsiders, with local residents accounting for no more than 10 percent. Jibril's radical and extreme preachings were also confirmed by, another neighbor, Wawan, 56. After the arrest of his son, though, Jibril seems to have toned down his rhetoric. Jibril has a long record of participating in radicalism. In early 1980s, Jibril spent three years in prison for his radicalism. He fled to Malaysia in 1985 following then president Soeharto's crackdown on Islamic militants. According to police, he was recruited in Malaysia to fight in Afghanistan, eventually becoming a trainer there. Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, Jibril spent most of the 1990s in Malaysia helping Ba'asyir and Sungkar found JI. He was a treasurer along with Hambali, a key JI financier currently held in the US. Jibril returned to Indonesia after Soeharto's downfall in 1998. He played a role in supporting sectarian conflicts in Poso, Central Sulawesi until he was arrested by the Malaysian government, which held him from 2001 and 2004 under the country's Internal Security Act for promoting radicalism. But it was a small explosion in front of Jibril's house in another part of Pamulang in mid-2005 that recalled much of Jibril's past. . The police claimed the device was similar to those used in sectarian conflicts in Poso between 1998 and 2000. They raided his house but laid no charges. It was later revealed the police were hesitant to file the charges after pressure from politicians from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). PAN lawmaker Patrialis Akbar, now the justice and human rights minister, was among the lawmakers who stormed National Police headquarters demanding they drop all charges against Jibril. (rdf) Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/13/abu-jibril-inured-overlooked-h ardliner.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Fri, 03/12/2010 11:34 AM | Special Report - Terror cell alliance forges new structure and attack methods
http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Terror cell alliance forges new structure and attack methods Rendi A. Witular, Hotli Simanjuntak and Dicky Christanto , The Jakarta Post | Fri, 03/12/2010 11:34 AM | Special Report A crackdown on terrorist training camps in Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam, still recovering from decades of bloody insurgency, has culminated in authorities killing Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorist, Dulmatin, who masterminded the first Bali bombing, in the southern outskirts of Jakarta. The foiling of the network has uncovered a new and more sophisticated structure of terror cells. The Jakarta Post's Rendi A. Witular, Hotli Simanjuntak and Dicky Christanto delve into the issue. Here are the stories: Ever since the start of police raids on terrorist training camps on Feb. 22, villagers of Sukatani in Jantho district, Aceh Besar, no longer have the everyday luxury of farming peacefully. Tense villagers have taken up arms in a witch-hunt against the fleeing terrorists hunted by police. We have intensified night patrols following the raids. We don't want our place to be used as terrorist camp, which may fuel another conflict, Sukatani village chief Muzakir said on Thursday. Three police officers were killed in raids, raising fears the terrorists would not hesitate to kill defiant villagers. Sukatani is the closest village to the raided terrorist training camp located deep in the Jalin forest, which is a geographically ideal site to hide any criminal activities. The village and its vicinity have long been known as a magnet for Javanese migrants since the 1980s. At the height of the separatist insurgency led by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in 2003 and 2004, most of the villagers fled from the area for fear of being lynch by GAM members because of their opposition to the struggle. After the 2005 peace accord that brought an end to the insurgency, most of the Javanese migrants began trickling back to the village, bringing along their extended families, Muksalmina, the chairman of the Aceh Transition Commission, said Thursday. The commission houses former GAM combatants. There's an indication the terrorists are sneaking along the wave of the returning transmigrants, said Muksalmina, adding the transmigrants were usually opening up new spaces in deep in the forest for farming and living. aceh besar: JP/IrmaJP/Irma Apart from the largely uninhabited areas, Aceh has all the ingredients to lure terrorist networks to operate in its territory, given that the province is still struggling to forge a lasting peace after decades of violence. The head of the antiterror division at the Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Ministry, Insp. Gen. (ret) Ansyaad Mbai, believes it was natural for terrorist groups to select conflict zones or areas, once used as a battleground, for their training and recruitment camp. They used Poso [in Central Sulawesi], and now Aceh, he said Thursday. It is easier in these areas to source firearms, explosives and manpower. Another reason is that their activities are now limited in Java because of intense scrutiny. Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi added that the selection of Aceh was also related with the presence of Sharia law, suggesting that the province tolerated all kinds of Islamic radicalism. Acehnese are known for being devout Muslims. The terrorists capitalized on this to cover their activities. However, this was a mistake on their part from the very beginning, Ito said Thursday. He said it was local residents who informed police of terrorist training. The terrorists, who have been running the camp for at least a year, are also believed to be receiving assistance from several former GAM combatants dissatisfied with the peace accord. Most former GAM combatants oppose the terrorists, Ansyaad said. But there are numerous GAM splinter groups that feel dissatisfied with the current condition and are seeking to profit from the terrorists' activities. Wealth inequality among former combatants has become a major concern in Aceh. Most GAM commanders live in luxury while their foot soldiers remain impoverished. Of the 17 terrorists arrested in Aceh, police claim several of them have links with former GAM combatants. Terrorist groups may have also profited from Aceh's proximity to the busy shipping lane of the Malacca Straits, allowing them to procure firearms through drug trafficking in Thailand and Myanmar. While no conclusive evidence has emerged, the terrorists may also be eyeing an attack on vessels passing the Strait, or may hijack tanker vessels and crash them into strategic spots in Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia. There's no evidence of such plans yet. But since we're dealing with a concerted international terrorist network, I believe they may eventually do this, Ansyaad said. He also said there was also a possibility the
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post | Fri, 03/12/2010 11:41 AM | Special Report - Dulmatin returned to share knowledge at new camp Dulmatin returned to share knowledge at new camp
http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Dulmatin returned to share knowledge at new camp Rendi A. Witular, Hotli Simanjuntak and Dicky Christanto , The Jakarta Post | Fri, 03/12/2010 11:41 AM | Special Report After the death of Malaysian master bombers Noordin M. Top and Azahari, Dulmatin born Joko Pitono, directly took up the reins to become Southeast Asias highest-profile terrorist leader. According to police, Dulmatins return was not merely to fill a vacant post, but to also help open up a new training camp in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam for an entirely different type of operation. Dulmatin and colleagues Umar Patek and Heru Kuncoro had extensive knowledge of setting up camps in the middle of the jungle from their experience in aiding Abu Sayyaf rebels in Mindanao, South Philippines. Dulmatin, trained by al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, was killed Tuesday in a police raid at an internet café in Pamulang, South Tangerang, Banten. His two bodyguards were also shot dead in a separate raid on the same day. Umar and Heru, however, remain at large. As the masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombing, Dulmatin and Umar sought sanctuary with Abu Sayyaf group in 2003, and survived intense manhunts by the Filipino security forces and the US military. From there, both provided frequent assistance to fellow Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) militants to orchestrate terror activities across the country. National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri acknowledged that Dulmatin was more skilled than Azahari in making bombs. He said early investigations proved that Dulmatin decided to return home with a plan, which was still being investigated by police based on recovered documents and evidence. One thing is certain: Dulmatin was responsible for initiating the military-style training in Aceh Besar [regency], he said. Dulmatins training camp in Aceh was set up deep in the Jalin forest, with the closest village located 3 kilometers away. The police found dozens of weapons, including M-16s and AK-47s, as well as tens of thousands of rounds. Bambang said Dulmatin and his group had secured Rp 500 million (US$52,000) to fund the camp. Terrorism commentator Al Chaidar, a former member of the Darul Islam (DI) militant group and now a lecturer at Acehs Syiah Kuala University, said Dulmatins return was not only to open the camp but to also roll out an entirely new operation, as he was a high-ranking JI leader. He ranked above Azahari and Noordin, he said, adding that Dulmatin now actually led the terror network in the field, a move he rarely took. Dulmatin, born in Pemalang, Central Java on June 6, 1970, is survived by four children who studied in Ulul Albab boarding school in Sukoharjo, Central Java. His widow, Istiada, lives in the school compound. He left his family in Sukoharjo, and on Nov. 3, 2009, moved into lodgings in Gang Madrasah in Pondok Benda, Pamulang, which he rented for Rp 250,000 a month. Neighbors said Dulmatin claimed to work as a salesman in motorcycle and car showrooms in Pamulang. After graduating high school in Yogyakarta in 1990, Dulmatin spent time in Afghanistan and Malaysia from 1992 to 1995 before joining sectarian conflicts in Ambon, Maluku, and in Poso, Central Sulawesi, between 1998 and 2000. According to police reports, apart from the Bali bombing, Dulmatin was also involved in the bombing of the Philippine ambassadors residence in Jakarta in 2000, Christmas Eve bombings in Jakarta and Mojokerto in 2000, Atrium shopping center bombing in 2001, and the first JW Marriott bombing in 2003. Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/12/dulmatin-returned-share-knowle dge-new-camp.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 03/12/2010 11:46 A M | Special Report - Pamulang is the 'command center' for new terror network
http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Pamulang is the 'command center' for new terror network The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 03/12/2010 11:46 AM | Special Report A largely residential areas of middle-class urban workers, Pamulang district in South Tangerang, Banten, now struggles to detach itself from being stereotyped as a terrorist hotbed. Located just 15 kilometers south of Jakarta, Pamulang has seen a string of terrorism-related incidents, which revolve around firebrand cleric Mohammed Iqbal Abdurrahman, widely known as Abu Jibril. While no conclusive evidence has linked Abu with terrorist activities, law enforcement officials have consistently refused to overlook his role. On Tuesday, the police killed top terrorist leader Dulmatin and his two bodyguards who were hiding out in a house in Pamulang. At the same time, the police also stormed a house belonging to local resident Fauzi for allegedly supporting Dulmatin's activities. Fauzi, a wealthy paramedic, is a member of Abu's congregation. Fauzi is one of my followers. He was at my morning prayer before police stormed his place, Abu said Tuesday. He denied knowing Dulmatin and distanced himself from allegations of involvement in terrorism. Islam prohibits any teaching that supports terrorism, he said. However, police arrested his son Muhammad Jibril late last year for allegedly funding terrorist attacks on the JW Mariott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in the middle of last year. Muhammad is being indicted at the South Jakarta Court. Attention on Abu began in the middle of 2005 after a small explosion occurred in front of his house. The police, who claim the device was similar to those used in sectarian conflict in Poso, Central Sulawesi, between 1998 and 2000, raided Abu's house but no charges were filed against him. Abu, who runs the arrahmah.com radicalism and jihad movement news portal, leads an exclusive prayer group of middle- and upper-income Pamulang residents. The group formed five years ago when Abu took over Al-Munawwarah mosque from local residents of the Witanaharja housing complex. Abu moved to Pamulang six years ago. Abu's teacher, hardline cleric Abubakar Ba'asyir, regularly preaches at Abu's prayer meetings, advocating a jihadist movement. Abu, born in 1957, was a student of the Al-Mukmin boarding school in Ngruki, Central Java, founded by Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leaders Ba'asyir and Abdullah Sungkar. JI has been declared a terrorist group by many Western nations. In 1985, Abu fled to Malaysia following then president Soeharto's intense crackdown on Islamic militants and radicals. According to police, he was recruited in Malaysia to fight in Afghanistan, eventually becoming a trainer there. Following the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan, Abu spent most of the 1990s in Malaysia helping Ba'asyir and Sungkar develop JI. He was its treasurer along with Hambali, a key JI financier currently held in the US. Abu returned to Indonesia after Soeharto's downfall in 1998, and played a role in supporting sectarian conflict in Poso until he was arrested by the Malaysian government, which held him from 2001 and 2004 under the country's Internal Security Act for promoting radicalism. Upon his return to Indonesia in 2004, Abu found difficulty staying below the radar until Ba'asyir henchman Sutisna set him up in a safehouse in Pamulang, according to Indonesian Muslim Movement cleric Abdurrahman Assegaf. Pamulang has become a hotbed of terrorist activities since Abu settled in the area, Abdurrahman said. We should crack down on people like Abu who promote radicalism and violent approaches to jihad. JP/IrmaJP/Irma Police said Pamulang was a meeting point for an alliance of terror cells from Banten, West Java, and Aceh formed by Dulmatin. The Banten cell includes Adam and Zaki Rahmatullah. Both were recruited by Rois, the cell leader who is now awaiting a death sentence for his role in the Australian Embassy bombing. The West Java cell includes Sofyan Kasauri, who supplied firearms for terrorists in Aceh. The Aceh cell includes Yudi Zulfahri, who facilitate the alliance into operating in Aceh. All evidence suggests Pamulang is the command center for [the terrorists] operations at their Aceh training camp, Insp. Gen. (ret) Ansyaad Mbai, the antiterror chief at the Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Ministry, said. I believe those preaching radicalism and violent jihad in Pamulang should be arrested. They are the root cause of all this evil, he said, adding that unlike neighboring countries, Indonesia has no internal security laws, allowing extremists to freely spread hatred to gain support for violent action. (rdf) Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/03/12/pamulang-%E2%80%98command-cent
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, March 11, 2010 - Terrorists 'Still a Strong Threat' to Indonesia
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/terrorists-still-a-strong-threat-to-indo nesia/363167 March 11, 2010 Nurfika Osman Farouk Arnaz Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri holding up a photo of Dulmatin. (Antara Photo/Yudhi Mahatma) Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri holding up a photo of Dulmatin. (Antara Photo/Yudhi Mahatma) Terrorists 'Still a Strong Threat' to Indonesia Despite the confirmed death of terrorist mastermind Dulmatin, a resurgent and expanding militant network still posed serious security concerns, experts warned on Wednesday. Andi Widjajanto, a military analyst from the University of Indonesia, said regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for a string of deadly terrorist attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings, appeared to be growing stronger as it was now no longer solely based in Java. They are recruiting new members outside Java and developing new cells, he said. We estimate that there are 300 active JI members spread nationwide with [an additional] 240 released terrorist convicts. This does not include many people who are being trained secretly. National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, addressing a news conference earlier on Wednesday, said JI was regrouping despite the fact police had killed or captured more than 400 terrorist suspects since 2002. JI always reorganizes itself, Bambang said. We should remain alert to this threat even though we've already killed several of their leaders and captured more than 400 terror suspects. Bambang said the police believed Dulmatin, who allegedly established a shadowy paramilitary training camp in Aceh, had encouraged raising funds by robbing non-Muslims. JI has in the past used armed robberies to fund its terrorist attacks. Brig. Gen. Surya Dharma, the National Police's former antiterror chief, told the Jakarta Globe that the recent police raids on militants in Aceh and Java were proof that JI was still a presence and was changing its tactics. He said police had been concerned for some time that JI would adopt the same tactics as Abu Sayyaf, a violent Muslim separatist group based in the southern Philippines, which favors kidnapping for ransom and hit-and-run attacks. Those fears were heightened when it became apparent that Dulmatin, who is closely linked to Muslim separatist groups in the Philippines, returned to Indonesia, Surya said. Andi said Dulmatin's return was to fill the power vacuum left after JI's former leader, Noordin M Top, was killed last year. But Noor Huda Ismail, head of the Institute for International Peacebuilding, said the peace deal struck between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Philippine government was more likely to have prompted his return. Meanwhile, Andi said three dangerous terrorist suspects still remained at large, namely Upik Lawangga, Umar Patek and Zulkarnaen. Both Umar and Zulkarnean are wanted by the US government for their roles in the 2002 Bali bombings, while Zulkarnean is believed by some analysts to now head JI. Umar Patek is still on the run; we don't know where he is, Andi said. The latest information has placed Zulkarnaen in Sabah, Malaysia. The third person is Upik Lawangga and he's believed to be in Poso, Central Sulawesi, developing a new group. He said that JI had selected Aceh and other places off Java for its bases as part of a new pattern of terrorism. Aside from being a former conflict area, Aceh was also suitable as a base as it was near the Malacca Strait, providing a good vantage for both escape and spreading terrorism, Andi said. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Star Online, Thursday, March 11,2010 - Dulmatin 's lipped into Indonesia'
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/focus/5840870 http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/focus/5840870sec=focu s sec=focus The Star Online http://thestar.com.my/default.asp Focus Thursday March 11, 2010 Dulmatin 'slipped into Indonesia' By AMY CHEW FOR the past eight years, the Philippines security forces have repeatedly made claims the elusive, shadowy Indonesian expert bomb-maker, Dulmatin, hiding among the Abu Sayaf rebels, in Mindanao has been killed. All claims turned out to be false, to the frustration of Indonesian authorities, for they know only too well the destruction the 39-year-old militant can wreck upon the country. He was one of the masterminds of 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people. Indonesian anti-terror officers believe Dulmatin slipped back quietly into the country more than a year ago but no one knew it was the fugitive. We are not quite sure why he returned, a senior Indonesian anti-terror officer told The Star. During that period, the name of a little-known preacher, Muhammad Yahya, came on the radar of the anti-terror police. Muhammad Yahya's name came up in the militants' circle. We put him under surveillance but we didn't know who he was and that it was actually Dulmatin himself, said the officer. The police kept an eye on Muhammad Yahya but he was not a top priority as the authorities had their hands full hunting for other militants, including slain Malaysian terrorist Noordin Muhammad Top. It is believed Dulmatin aligned himself with Noordin's splinter group, Tandzim Al-Qodat, when he returned as both men shared the same beliefs. Dulmatin believes in jihad and killing infidels as part of the mission to establish an Islamic state based on syariah laws, said a regional anti-terror officer. Muhammad Yahya eked out a living trading in livestock in Central Java and was known to be friendly and interacted well with the local community wherever he went. He used many aliases to avoid detection. He was also good at interacting with the locals, said the officer. But behind the seemingly innocent demeanour of the livestock trader, Dulmatin was reinvigorating the terror network, procuring weapons and training militants. Dulmatin spent his time procuring weapons from previous conflict areas like Ambon and Poso. He also trained terror members in military warfare, said the officer. Ambon on the Spice Islands and Poso in Central Sulawesi were the scene of bloody fighting between Muslim and Christians from 1999 to 2002 which killed thousands. During the conflict, over 1,000 weapons were smuggled into the two areas. The majority of the weapons remain in the hands of local residents and militants are known to buy the weapons off them. Muhammad Yahya's name resurfaced sometime in February when Indonesian police discovered a militant training camp in Aceh and conducted a series of raids. During the raids, three police officers were killed and 21 alleged militants were arrested. The men who were at the camp comprised both Javanese and Acehnese. One of the trainers was a former GAM member, said the officer. GAM stands for Free Aceh, the separatist movement which waged an insurgency for 29 years for an independent state. GAM laid down its arms after signing a historic peace agreement in 2005 in the wake of the epic Boxing Day tsunami which laid the land to waste. Aceh governor Irwandi Yusuf has said no GAM member is involved in the training camp but anti-terror officers disagreed. Former ex-GAM combatants who were arrested during the raids are alleged to belong the GAM faction which rejected the peace deal, said the officer. Those who joined the terror camp are ex-GAM members who failed to reintegrate into society and could not find any work after the peace agreement. Following the Aceh raids, Muhammad Yahya's name came up again. It was then that we found out that Muhammad Yahya was Dulmatin, said the officer. The police started to trail Dulmatin and kept him under tight surveillance. Dulmatin went back and forth between Aceh and Jakarta. His former comrade-in-arms in southern Philippines who returned to Indonesia earlier gave him shelter. Last Tuesday, the police trailed Dulmatin to Pamulang in Greater Jakarta. When Dulmatin stepped into the Internet cafe, Indonesian anti-terror police followed suit. Dulmatin opened fire and the police returned fire. After eight long years, the terror king is finally dead. _ C 1995-2010 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Hospital fears for abused maid's life, Indonesia Consulate refused to follow up
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article23575.ece Hospital fears for abused maid's life http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article23590.ece/REPRESENTATIONS/large_620x3 50/20100227_SAU_hospital2.jpg BRUTAL: Indonesian maid Sariti Haiti shows signs of torture on her back to doctors. (AN photo) By MUHAMMAD AL-SULAMI | ARAB NEWS Published: Feb 27, 2010 11:39 PM Updated: Feb 28, 2010 4:18 PM JEDDAH: Erfan Bagedo Hospital in Jeddah has rejected the request of Safa police to hand over an Indonesian maid, who has been receiving treatment at the hospital, to her sponsor. The maid was admitted to hospital on Dec. 20, 2009 after she fell from the third floor of her sponsor's apartment building. The maid, Sariti Haiti, told hospital authorities that she had been tortured by her sponsor. She was brought to hospital by Red Crescent officials with injuries and bruises on different parts of her body. Initial reports said the maid's backbone and neck were broken after falling from the building. Doctors at the hospital observed that the maid had been beaten up and tortured and they found signs of torture on her back in the form of burns and signs of lashes. They also detected internal bleeding and an injury to her head. The treatment bill reached SR120,000. Dr. Ahmed Erfan, deputy general manager of the hospital, said the maid was working for a Saudi woman. We contacted her sponsor to pay the bill. A man responded from the other side and acknowledged the maid worked for them but refused to pay the bill, he said. The hospital then contacted the Indonesian Consulate, which refused to accept the hospital's letter by hand. It had to send the letter then by fax. After a week a consulate representative came to inspect the condition of the maid but he did not come back again. After two months we wrote a letter to Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed, who promised he would follow up the matter, he said. Last week the hospital received a letter from the Safa police director asking them to hand over the maid to her sponsor. Fearing for the maid's life, we placed her in the psychiatric section, which is guarded round the clock. We also informed the National Society for Human Rights which told us not to hand the woman over, he said. Dr. Erfan expressed surprise that the consulate was not cooperating with the hospital. He said the hospital would follow the instructions of the governor. We are not bothered about the bill but we are very concerned about the maid's health, he added. The Human Rights Commission said it would discuss the matter with the relevant authorities. The maid came to Saudi Arabia in August 2009. After a month her woman sponsor started mistreating her, the maid said. The maid said the sponsor used to throw her food in the bin when there was any delay in completing her work. The sponsor also allegedly cut part of her hair in the front in order to prevent her from going out and threatened her that she would cut off all her hair. The maid said the sponsor accused her of stealing her gold. She took me in front of her sons and removed all my clothes to check my body in order to find out whether I had kept that gold under the clothing, she said. The maid added her sponsor had also asked her to leave the house after giving her the passport but she did not leave, fearing the woman would tell police that she had run away. After some time, the sponsor said the taste of tea I was preparing had changed as she accused me of urinating in the tea. I told her that it is haram and I would never do it. She also forced me to drink the urine of her children in front of them, she said. The maid said the sponsor had beaten her head with a frying pan on Dec. 19, 2009, causing a deep injury on her head. My sponsor asked me to cover my head and remove the blood from the ground. She threatened me that she would cut my body into pieces if I did not follow her orders, she said. I was afraid that she would kill me one day, the maid said, adding that she jumped from the apartment to escape from the sponsor. She did not remember anything except the guard told her not to jump from the building. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] JAKARTA, Feb 18 AAP - 'Prince Of Jihad' Set To Face Bombing Trial
'Prince Of Jihad' Set To Face Bombing Trial By Adam Gartrell, South-East Asia Correspondent JAKARTA, Feb 18 AAP - An Indonesian Islamist nicknamed the Prince of Jihad will face trial accused of raising funds for last year's Jakarta hotel attacks but prosecutors admit they may struggle to convict him. Prosecutors will allege Mohammed Jibril was linked to terrorist Saifuddin Jaelani, also known as Saifuddin Zuhri, one of the chief planners of the July 17 bombings on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels that killed seven, including three Australians. They will allege Jaelani received funds from a retired Saudi teacher named Al Khelaw Ali Abdullah which he passed on to Jibril to open an internet cafe in 2008. From this internet cafe they could generate some more money as well as using it as a way to communicate their views to the outside world, prosecutor Totok Bambang told AAP ahead of next week's trial. Before the attacks Jibril, 25, was well-known for publishing a popular radical Islamist website and a glossy magazine called Jihadmagz. He is the son of prominent radical cleric Abu Jibril, a former student of Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), the group responsible for the 2002 Bali bombings. He is known to have spent some time working with a JI unit in Karachi. Nonetheless, Bambang conceded it had been difficult to mount a case against Jibril. This is a difficult case because this is the case of funding terrorism, he says. In funding, it's difficult to get evidence because only several transactions could be traced. They deliver the money hand to hand, not through bank accounts. There are very few witnesses for this. Terrorism expert Sidney Jones said the evidence against Jibril appeared weak. It came as a surprise to a lot of people when he was arrested because he was somebody who seemed all bluster, and not necessarily involved in any way, Dr Jones told AAP. Jaelani was a senior acolyte of terrorist leader Noordin Mohammed Top, who was killed in a police raid in September. After Top's death, Jaelani is thought to have assumed control of Top's violent JI splinter cell, which was believed responsible for a string of attacks in Jakarta and Bali. But Jaelani was himself killed in a separate police raid in October. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Newsweek, February 12, 2010 - The Jihad Against the Jihadis
http://www.newsweek.com/ Newsweek The Jihad Against the Jihadis How moderate Muslim leaders waged war on extremistsand won. By http://www.newsweek.com/id/173014 Fareed Zakaria | NEWSWEEK Published Feb 12, 2010 From the magazine issue dated Feb 22, 2010 September 11, 2001, was gruesome enough on its own terms, but for many of us, the real fear was of what might follow. Not only had Al Qaeda shown it was capable of sophisticated and ruthless attacks, but a far greater concern was that the group had or could establish a powerful hold on the hearts and minds of Muslims. And if Muslims sympathized with Al Qaeda's cause, we were in for a herculean struggle. There are more than 1.5 billion Muslims living in more than 150 countries across the world. If jihadist ideology became attractive to a significant part of this population, the West faced a clash of civilizations without end, one marked by blood and tears. These fears were well founded. The 9/11 attacks opened the curtain on a world of radical and violent Islam that had been festering in the Arab lands and had been exported across the globe, from London to Jakarta. Polls all over the Muslim world revealed deep anger against America and the West and a surprising degree of support for Osama bin Laden. Governments in most of these countries were ambivalent about this phenomenon, assuming that the Islamists' wrath would focus on the United States and not themselves. Large, important countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia seemed vulnerable. More than eight eventful years have passed, but in some ways it still feels like 2001. Republicans have clearly decided that fanning the public's fears of rampant jihadism continues to be a winning strategy. Commentators furnish examples of backwardness and brutality from various parts of the Muslim worldand there are manyto highlight the grave threat we face. But, in fact, the entire terrain of the war on terror has evolved dramatically. Put simply, the moderates are fighting back and the tide is turning. We no longer fear the possibility of a major country succumbing to jihadist ideology. In most Muslim nations, mainstream rulers have stabilized their regimes and their societies, and extremists have been isolated. This has not led to the flowering of Jeffersonian democracy or liberalism. But modern, somewhat secular forces are clearly in control and widely supported across the Muslim world. Polls, elections, and in-depth studies all confirm this trend. The focus of our concern now is not a broad political movement but a handful of fanatics scattered across the globe. Yet Washington's vast nation-building machinery continues to spend tens of billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and there are calls to do more in Yemen and Somalia. What we have to ask ourselves is whether any of that really will deter these small bands of extremists. Some of them come out of the established democracies of the West, hardly places where nation building will help. We have to understand the changes in the landscape of Islam if we are going to effectively fight the enemy on the ground, rather than the enemy in our minds. Once, no country was more worrying than bin Laden's homeland. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, steward of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, had surpassed Egypt as the de facto leader of the Arab world because of the vast sums of money it doled out to Islamic causesusually those consonant with its puritanical Wahhabi doctrines. Since 1979 the Saudi regime had openly appeased its homegrown Islamists, handing over key ministries and funds to reactionary mullahs. Visitors to Saudi Arabia after 9/11 were shocked by what they heard there. Educated Saudisincluding senior members of the governmentpublicly endorsed wild conspiracy theories and denied that any Saudis had been involved in the 9/11 attacks. Even those who accepted reality argued that the fury of some Arabs was inevitable, given America's one-sided foreign policy on the Arab-Israeli issue. America's initial reaction to 9/11 was to focus on Al Qaeda. The group was driven out of its base in Afghanistan and was pursued wherever it went. Its money was tracked and blocked, its fighters arrested and killed. Many other nations joined in, from France to Malaysia. After all, no government wanted to let terrorists run loose in its land. But a broader conversation also began, one that asked, Why is this happening, and what can we do about it? The most influential statement on Islam to come out of the post-9/11 era was not a presidential speech or an intellectual's essay. It was, believe it or not, a United Nations report. In 2002 the U.N. Development Program published a detailed study of the Arab world. The paper made plain that in an era of globalization, openness, diversity, and tolerance, the Arabs were the world's great laggards. Using hard data, the report painted a picture of political, social, and intellectual stagnation in countries from
[wanita-muslimah] Kompas, Selasa, 16 Februari 2010 - SISI LAIN ISTANA: Sang Jubir Presiden
http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2010/02/16/02534394/sang.jubir.presiden SISI LAIN ISTANA Sang Jubir Presiden Selasa, 16 Februari 2010 | 02:53 WIB Dalam sejarah pemerintahan di Indonesia, adanya juru bicara presiden secara resmi dimulai pada masa pemerintahan Abdurrahman Wahid (1999-2001). Rabu, 11 Oktober 2000, di ruang pers di belakang Gedung Bina Graha, Jalan Veteran, Jakarta, Wimar Witoelar mengatakan kepada sekitar 40 wartawan yang sehari-hari meliput peristiwa kepresidenan: Tugas para juru bicara (jubir) adalah meletakkan dialog antara Presiden dan masyarakat dalam komunikasi yang jernih. Ketika itu, Wimar baru diangkat sebagai Juru Bicara Presiden bersama Adhie Massardi dan Yahya Staquf. Bersama mereka, saat itu, diangkat pula Kepala Biro Pers Istana Dharmawan Ronodipuro yang punya tugas sama, menjadi jembatan dalam dialog antara Presiden dan wartawan. Menurut Staquf, yang kini menetap di pesantren di Rembang, Jawa Tengah, ketika menjadi jubir, ia sempat mempelajari kegiatan Jubir Gedung Putih di Amerika Serikat. Jubir Presiden AS saat itu punya staf dan pembantu yang memadai. Para pembantu jubir ada yang bertugas bergaul dengan wartawan, ujarnya. Maka, ketika menjadi Jubir, Staquf selalu menyempatkan berbincang-bincang dengan Presiden pada waktu senggang. Selain itu, kata Staquf, para jubir juga banyak bergaul dengan wartawan secara informal. Dengan demikian, terjadi jalinan rasa. Ini yang dilakukan Menteri Sekretaris Negara Moerdiono pada masa pemerintahan Presiden Soeharto (1967-1998). Pada saat senggang, Moerdiono mengajak wartawan makan singkong goreng di ruang kerjanya. Ia banyak memberi latar belakang berbagai masalah pemerintahan dan mendengarkan suara wartawan. Pada masa itu, tidak ada jubir. Ia jadi jembatan dialog Pak Harto dan wartawan. Masa Presiden Soekarno tidak ada jubir. Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri (2001-2004) menghapus lembaga jubir. Menurut pengamatan Staquf, Jubir Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono periode 2004-2009, Dino Patti Djalal dan Andi Mallarangeng, sangat agresif atau sangat high profile. Pada periode kedua, Julian A Pasha terlalu low profile. Agresivitas Dino sangat terlihat dalam bukunya, Harus Bisa-Seni Memimpin a la SBY. Di halaman 7 dan 8, Dino menuliskan, ... Amien Rais tidak puas dengan operasi penyelamatan waktu itu (setelah tsunami di Aceh) Saya dulu juga pengagum Amien Rais Staquf pernah berani memotong beberapa kalimat dari instruksi Gus Dur yang harus diumumkan lewat wartawan. Ini pilihan saya demi jernihnya dialog antara Gus Dur dan wartawan. Beberapa nama saya hilangkan dalam pengumuman saya, ujar Staquf. Juru instruksi Biro Pers Istana saat ini lebih terlihat sebagai juru instruksi kepada wartawan. Akan tetapi, memang, saat ini tak seorang pun di istana merelakan diri menjadi jembatan dialog antara SBY dan wartawan atau masyarakat. Akibatnya, soal unjuk rasa dengan kerbau menjadi bahan olok-olok masyarakat. Ada yang baru dalam sejarah istana saat ini. Wakil Presiden Boediono punya Jubir Yopie Hidayat. Yopie cukup luwes bergaul dengan wartawan. Perlu dicatat, arti dialog di sini bukan instruksi atau memberikan penjelasan panjang lebar. Dialog juga mendengarkan mitra bicara secara apa adanya. Jubir tidak perlu bicara panjang lebar tentang keberhasilan, kebaikan, dan kemuliaan istana. Kalau kita bicara dengan juru bicara seperti itu, lima menit pertama kita bisa senang. Akan tetapi, bila selama satu jam berikutnya pembicaraannya berisi memuji-muji dirinya, kita akan muak. Penyakit kita di sini adalah terlalu banyak memuji diri, begitu kata biduan senior Franky Sahilatua di Manado, beberapa pekan lalu. (J Osdar) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, February 12, 2010 - Documents Reveal Final Moments of Jakarta Hotel Bombers
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/documents-reveal-final-moments-of-jakart a-hotel-bombers/358390 Heru Andriyanto Police officers inspect the damage at J.W. Marriott hotel after the July bombings. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Police officers inspect the damage at J.W. Marriott hotel after the July bombings. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Documents Reveal Final Moments of Jakarta Hotel Bombers Police documents released for the first time reveal how the JW Marriott Hotel suicide bomber was able to talk his way into a lounge hosting a private event for foreign businesspeople. According to the documents, released during the ongoing trial of Amir Abdillah, who is charged with helping to coordinate the July 17, 2009, bombings at the Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the bomber, Dani Dwi Permana, was at first stopped from entering the lounge. Dani, who was registered as a guest at the hotel under a fake name, arrived at the lounge wearing a backpack across his chest and pulling a wheeled-suitcase. CCTV video footage of the scene in the hotel lobby was played repeatedly on TV in the days after the bombings. I want to see my boss, Dani told a security officer, according to the police documents and the indictment against Amir, the first suspected militant to be tried in relation to the hotel attacks. Which one is your boss? What's his name? a security guard, Dikdik Ahmad Taufik, asked. I just want to deliver something to my boss, Dani replied. Dadang Hidayat, a member of the front desk staff, then came over to see what was going on. Dadang then told Dani: This is a private event, you cannot enter, but you can wait outside. This will only take a minute. I just want to deliver [something] to my boss, Dani said. OK then, go find your boss, Dadang said, asking another Marriott employee, chef Evert Mokodompis, to follow Dani. According to the indictment, outside the hotel, suspected militant Saefudin Zuhri was coordinating the attack from inside a Daihatsu Terios van driven by Amir. Using a mobile phone, Saefudin instructed Dani to activate the 3G system of his own cellphone, the indictment says. Saefudin continued speaking to Dani, giving him instructions and encouragement. The indictment says that Saefudin instructed Dani to shout Allahu Akbar as he approached the foreigners. Inside the hotel, Dani stood near the main buffet table. Dadang, who survived the attack, heard the cellphone in Dani's backpack ring. It was then that he saw the two black cables connecting the backpack to the suitcase, just before the bomb went off. Just before the bomb in the Marriott exploded, another bomber, identified as Nana Ikhwan Maulana, entered Airlangga restaurant at the nearby Ritz-Carlton Hotel carrying a backpack and a computer bag in his left hand. An employee at the restaurant, Windu Octavia Hardhani, greeted him in English. Good morning, sir. Breakfast? But Nana looked confused and gave no response, so Windu repeated the words in Indonesian. I want to meet my friend, replied Nana, who introduced himself as Heri. Windu took him to a table and Nana ordered coffee. As Windu walked away, she heard an explosion from the Marriott and rushed to the window to see what had happened. As she was looking for a telephone the bomb carried by Nana exploded inside the restaurant, according to the indictment. The two bombings killed nine people, including the bombers. Evert, the Marriott chef, also died. The other victims were foreigners, most of whom were attending the weekly breakfast gathering of executives and market analysts at the Marriott hosted by Castle Asia. At the time of the attacks, the Ritz-Carlton was preparing to welcome top English football team Manchester United the following day. The visit was canceled due to the attacks. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Thu, 02/11/2010 11:16 AM - Blasphemy law, a shackle to the Indonesian people
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/11/blasphemy-law-a-shackle-indone sian-people.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Blasphemy law, a shackle to the Indonesian people Tobias Basuki , Jakarta | Thu, 02/11/2010 11:16 AM | Opinion Indonesia, the third-largest democracy in the world, may be facing gloomy days ahead. In December 2009, the late former president Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid led a coalition of civil society organizations in filing a judicial review against the archaic blasphemy law (PNPS No. 1/1965). A move to abolish this problematic law would expectedly further consolidate Indonesia's democracy, freedom and harmony. Unfortunately there is strong resistance from the government and several religious and social groups against this move. Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar officially rejected this judicial review. On Feb. 4, Suryadharma Ali met with leaders of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) to talk about the judicial review. This is an unbelievably disappointing move by a government official of his stature. The FPI is a militant organization and the HTI is a global organization whose aim is to combine all Muslim countries into a unitary Islamic state or caliphate. The HTI is an organization that is even banned and proscribed in many Arab and Islamic countries. The FPI, and particularly the HTI, should not have a say on matters of the Indonesian people. The HTI does not represent the interests of the Indonesian people and our nation. The argument proposed by defenders of this blasphemy law, is that the law is meant to maintain harmony and peace among religions. Forgive me for saying this: It is complete baloney! This PNPS No. 1/1965 has been the ground on which the Criminal Code (KUHP), article 156a, rests. This KUHP, instead of maintaining peace and harmony, has been the umbrella under which various militant groups attack, burn and destroy others. A recent example is the case of Welhelmina Holle in Masohi, Central Maluku, in December 2008. There were accusations and rumors that Holle, an elementary school teacher, had been offensive about a religion in one of his lectures in class. As a result, a mob ran amok and destroyed 67 houses, a house of worship, and a community building. Hole was put on trial under the pretext of that law. It is the existence of the blasphemy law that ignites conflict. It does not maintain harmony and peace. The blasphemy law is just problematic on so many levels. Ironically it appears that many support it. Newspaper reports regarding the blasphemy law may seem to picture a widespread rejection to the judicial review. But it is important to take this with a grain of salt. Opposition to the judicial review is only proclaimed by heads of institutions and a mob of radical groups with loud voices. Most Indonesians are perhaps rather oblivious or rather ignorant regarding the case. Considering it is not on the headlines and the complicity of jargons used in the case. However, we can be sure if explained properly, the public will want the abolition of the blasphemy law. Not only is this law problematic sociologically as illustrated above. It is in direct contradiction to our Constitution. Indonesia is a unitary state. The highest law of the land is the Constitution (UUD 1945), and all the laws under it should be in line with the Constitution. On the same token all the lower laws of the land should also not contradict each other. An important point to note is: our Constitution protects religious freedom to its citizens as individuals, not the freedom for religious groups to bash on others. Article 28E on freedom of religion clearly states that each person/human/citizen has the right to choose and believe according to their conscience. In 2008, Indonesia ratified an International Convention on discrimination and passed a law to abolish Racial and Ethnic Discrimination (UU PDRE). This law rules that no one can be discriminated based on their beliefs, values or rituals that belongs to their group (articles 3, 4). In short, the antiquated blasphemy law is no longer needed. It violates the Constitution and is also in contradiction to a law of equal stature (UU PDRE). In 2007, Hudson Institute published a comprehensive study on freedom of religion around the world. The study ranked countries in the same manner as Freedom House's rankings. A country is ranked from 1 to 7, 1 being most free and 7 not free or repressed. Indonesia was ranked at 5 (partly free). A surprise and disappointment, particularly considering Malaysia was ranked at 4. At that time I did not agree with the classification given by Hudson Institute. Regardless of the various horizontal conflicts (cited by Hudson as reason for the low ranking of Indonesia), it did not make sense
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:28am GMT - Indonesian said God is great as hotels attacked
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE6190YL20100210?sp=true Indonesian said God is great as hotels attacked Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:28am GMT javascript:launchArticleSlideshow(); Photo 1 of 2Full Size javascript:launchArticleSlideshow(); By Telly Nathalia JAKARTA (Reuters) - An Indonesian suspect went on trial on Wednesday charged in connection with bomb attacks on two luxury hotels in Jakarta and a plan to assassinate President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Amir Abdillah, 34, is the first to appear of a group of defendants believed to have taken orders from Noordin Mohammad Top, the head of a violent wing of militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiah, which police said was behind the attacks. State prosecutor Totok Bambang told South Jakarta Court Abdillah helped other group members to launch suicide bomb attacks at the Ritz Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels in July 2009, in which 11 people were killed, including the suicide bombers, and 53 wounded. The defendant was involved and was aware of the plan and the implementation of the terror acts... The defendant also knew there would be another bombing targeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, another prosecutor, Kiki Ahmad Yani, told the court. Prosecutors said Abdillah was nearby on the morning of the hotel attacks, and, according to his statements to police, said Allahu Akbar, or God is great, before and after the bombs exploded. Abdillah had told police that Top, who was killed by police in a raid in September, had ordered the attacks on the hotels, and had planned to assassinate the president using a car bomb shortly afterwards. Under Indonesian law, the maximum penalty for abetting acts of terrorism is death. Jemaah Islamiah, which is believed to want to create an Islamic state linking Muslim communities in Southeast Asia, has in the past been linked to al Qaeda. It was blamed for a string of attacks that killed hundreds of civilians, including the bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta in 2004 and of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2003. Although many of the leaders of Top's ring have been killed in police raids, the special anti-terror detachment police say Indonesia still faces a considerable threat. (Writing by Olivia Rondonuwu; Editing by Sara http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=ukn=sarawebb; Webb and Nick Macfie) http://uk.reuters.com/resources/images/animatedLoader.gif C Thomson Reuters 2010 All rights reserved. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] channelnewsasia.com, 10 February 2010 2235 hrs - Indonesia hotel bombing suspect goes on trial
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1036599/1/.html
Indonesia hotel bombing suspect goes on trial
Posted: 10 February 2010 2235 hrs
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Amir Abdillah, a suspected member of late terror leader Noordin Mohammad
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JAKARTA: A suspected member of late terror leader Noordin Mohammad Top's
network went on trial in Indonesia Wednesday charged over twin suicide
attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta last year.
The bombings killed seven people as well as the two suicide bombers and
marked the bloody end of a four-year hiatus in attacks attributed to Noordin
and Al-Qaeda-linked regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Noordin's alleged driver, Amir Abdillah, 34, could face multiple death
sentences if convicted on charges that include carrying out an act of
terrorism, providing explosive materials and harbouring terrorist suspects.
Prosecutors said he was also part of a plot to assassinate Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and had booked a room at the JW Marriott
hotel which the bombers used to prepare their attacks.
He assisted in an act of terrorism by way of purposely using violence and
stirring an atmosphere of terror and widespread fear, prosecutor Totok
Bambang said.
Two Islamic extremists with backpacks filled with homemade bombs blew
themselves up at the neighbouring JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in
downtown Jakarta on July 17.
Three Australians, a New Zealander and a Dutch couple were among the dead as
the bombers targeted a meeting of foreign businessmen and a restaurant
popular with Western guests.
Abdillah wore the white garb of a devout Muslim, joked with journalists and
smiled during the hearing, but was not required to enter a plea.
Asked by journalists outside the court whether he regretted his actions, he
thought for a few seconds and replied: Yes.
Police have said his arrest shortly after the hotel blasts was crucial to
subsequent operations which ultimately led to the killing or capture of
Malaysian Islamist Noordin and several of his accomplices.
Noordin, who was killed by police in September, led a splinter faction of
Jemaah Islamiyah which he dubbed Al-Qaeda in the Malay Archipelago.
In addition to the hotel blasts, he was blamed for a 2003 attack on the
Marriott, the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and 2005
attacks on tourist restaurants on Bali, killing almost 50 people in total.
Jemaah Islamiyah carried out the 2002 bombings of nightspots on the resort
island of Bali which killed 202 people, mainly Western tourists, as well as
other attacks targeting Indonesian Christians.
Noordin and his followers dreamt of creating an Islamic caliphate spanning
much of Southeast Asia and advocated the use of indiscriminate violence to
protect Muslims from perceived oppression around the world.
He was inspired by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's call for global jihad
against the West and allegedly received funding from Al-Qaeda for the first
Marriott bombing.
Police say more than a dozen of his accomplices have been killed and six
arrested since the July 17 blasts, including a Saudi national who allegedly
provided funding for the attack.
The dead suspects include a florist who worked at one of the hotels and
helped the suicide bombers penetrate the establishments' airport-style
security and conduct extensive pre-attack surveillance.
One of the bombers stayed for several days as a guest at the Marriott before
launching his suicide mission.
The prosecution alleged Abdillah had also transported explosive materials to
a rented house on the outskirts of Jakarta where extremists were building a
truck bomb to be used against the president.
The plan was to crash the car into the president's convoy with eight sacks
of bombs, Bambang said, adding that Abdillah had staked out possible attack
zones with Noordin.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
- AFP/yb
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[wanita-muslimah] JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Study: Pop culture helps Ind onesia fight terrorism
Study: Pop culture helps Indonesia fight terrorism KRISTEN GELINEAU The Oklahoman Published: February 9, 2010 JAKARTA http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=JakartaCATEGORY=CITY , Indonesia http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=IndonesiaCATEGORY=COUNTRY (AP) - Using social media and pop culture has helped Indonesia's government counter terrorism and encourage moderate views on Islam, a leading terrorism expert said Tuesday. The world's most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia has stemmed widespread development of extremism and marginalized the al-Qaida http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Al+QaedaCATEGORY=ORGANIZATION -linked network Jemaah Islamiyah http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Jemaah+IslamiyaCATEGORY=ORGANI ZATION , said Magnus Ranstorp http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Magnus+RanstorpCATEGORY=PERSON , research director of the Center for Asymmetric Threat http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Center+for+Asymmetric+Threat+St udiesCATEGORY=ORGANIZATION Studies at the Swedish National Defense College http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Swedish+National+Defense+Colleg eCATEGORY=ORGANIZATION . To learn how, Ranstorp's center interviewed a cross-section of groups fighting extremism, religious organizations, defense officials and past and present members of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Southeast Asian network blamed for attacks including the 2002 bombing on Bali http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=BaliCATEGORY=STATE that killed 202 people. The results of the study, conducted for the Swedish International http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Swedish+International+Developme nt+AgencyCATEGORY=ORGANIZATION Development Agency and released this week, show Indonesia has relied on a mix of measures, including information campaigns that encourage debate on extremist issues using the Internet and TV. Another is the use of highly respected religious figures to promote moderate interpretations of Islam. The study cites the success of Indonesian pop star Ahmad Dhani http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Ahmad+DhaniCATEGORY=PERSON , whose anti-extremist song Laskar Cinta, or Army of Love, sold millions of copies. Using pop culture is extremely important, Ranstorp said. It's really about sort of maximum reach with a message of tolerance. The study noted that interest in interfaith dialogue was increasing in Indonesia. On the island of Java http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Java+(Island)CATEGORY=REGIONS , for example, Christians have visited and lived with Muslims at Islamic boarding schools, and in rural areas, Christian and Muslim youth have worked together on welfare projects. Julian Pasha http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Julian+PashaCATEGORY=PERSON , spokesman to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Susilo+Bambang+YudhoyonoCATEGO RY=PERSON , credits government efforts to forge relationships with potential extremists throughout Indonesia, which Pasha believes has helped foster better understanding between groups and kept violent radicalism at bay. But terrorism analyst Sidney Jones http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Sidney+JonesCATEGORY=PERSON , senior adviser for Crisis Group International http://newsok.com/keysearch/?er=1CANONICAL=Crisis+Group+InternationalCATE GORY=COMPANY , said popular culture and interfaith dialogue have nothing to do with Indonesia's success. Far more important, she says, is Indonesia's track record of getting extremists off the streets through strong police work, and bringing members of violent networks to trial. And there's another key factor, she said: The places where you've got the strongest terrorist movements are places that are either under occupation in the middle of a war, beset by a repressive government, or possessed of an alienated Muslim minority. And Indonesia doesn't fit any of those categories. Ranstorp said more studies are needed to determine which measures have had the most impact, and how they can be applied elsewhere. Still, he thinks there are many important lessons to be learned from the review. It's a good showcase ... of how the battle within Islam can be won, he said. Read more: http://newsok.com/study-pop-culture-helps-indonesia-fight-terrorism/article/ feed/132002?custom_click=pod_headline_asia#ixzz0f5qF1N29 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The New Straits Times, 3 February 2010 - Gus Dur's pluralist Islam takes root
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/16amy/Article/index_html AMY CHEW Gus Dur's pluralist Islam takes root 2010/02/03 The late Indonesian president and ulama Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, was a great protector of minorities who taught his followers to respect and accept others, regardless of race and religion, writes AMY CHEW TAHRIR Square is the most famous public square in Baghdad. It is also one of the most bombed-out areas in Iraq. The late Indonesian president and ulama Abdurrahman Wahid knew the square well, having committed it to memory from his days as a student at the University of Baghdad. Wahid, fondly known as Gus Dur, lived in Iraq from 1966 to 1970, where he studied Islamic literature. As a struggling student, he worked part-time for a textile company owned by a Jewish man to earn some extra money. On Jan 27, 1969, his Jewish boss asked Gus Dur to accompany him to Tahrir Square, which was just steps away from the office. On that day, nine Iraqi Jews were hanged at the square. They were convicted on charges of spying for Israel. Their deaths were part of a persecution of the tiny Jewish community that started around 1941. Upon seeing the bodies, Gus Dur's boss broke down and cried, for the dead men were his friends. That event left a very deep impact on my father, recounted Yenny Wahid, Gus Dur's second daughter. They were victims of politics and a policy of hatred. On that day, my father vowed he would protect minority people for as long as he lived. Gus Dur taught his followers to respect and accept others at all times, regardless of race and religion, as all men were God's creation. He also explained the Jewish faith and their people to Muslims. In 1994, Gus Dur broke new ground when he visited Israel. He also called Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad a liar for denying the Holocaust. And Gus Dur led by example. In 2004, when extremist Muslims built a wall around the Sang Timur Catholic school in Tangerang, Jakarta, to stop students from entering, Gus Dur intervened. He ordered 100 of his followers to safeguard the school and went to the school himself. If anyone wants to fight, they will have to face me first, Gus Dur said in the school's compound. The local authorities hastily tore down the wall. The Sang Timur incident was just one instance of Gus Dur's defence of the defenceless. Gus Dur has done so much for minorities, said Theo Bela, secretary-general for Indonesia Committee of Religious Peace. In the past, he saved so many churches from being burnt, including the priests inside them, Belo added. Humorous, brilliant and eccentric, Gus Dur led the country's largest Muslim organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), for 15 years before becoming president in 1999. With an estimated 40 million members, NU practices a moderate, syncretic form of Islam, assimilating Hinduism and local beliefs. The seeds of a pluralist Islam that Gus Dur planted grow deep in the hearts of his followers. One of them died living out his teachings in 2000. It was Christmas Eve that year in the town of Mojokerto, East Java. Churches were getting bomb threats. The churches turned to NU for help. Members of its famous youth wing, Banser, were sent to guard them. Riyanto, then 25, was a Banser member. On Christmas Eve, he volunteered to guard the Eben Haezer Church. Across the narrow street from the church was a shop with a pay phone next to it. While on guard, the volunteers saw an abandoned package at the pay phone. They reported it to the police, who told them it was a bomb and evacuated the area. But Riyanto refused to leave. Instead, he grabbed the package and tried to move it as far away as possible from the church. He ran towards a reinforced drainage ditch on the other side of the shop. He never made it. The package exploded in his hands, hurtling his body into the air and over the church, falling through the roof of a nearby house. That night, 38 bombs exploded in 11 cities across Indonesia , killing 19 people and wounding 120. Gus Dur visited Riyanto's home and declared him a hero. My father said that was real jihad. He said Riyanto was a hero for humanity, recalled Yenny, who is executive director of the Wahid Institute, a think tank for pluralist Islam. We set up a scholarship for middle and high school students and named it after Riyanto. Gus Dur was born on Sept 7, 1940 into a family of ulama in Jombang, East Java. In East Java, telling jokes was a way of life. It's no surprise that it produced a unique ulama like Gus Dur, who was more often heard telling jokes than preaching. Many believed Gus Dur spread his teachings of pluralist Islam very effectively because he was good at telling jokes that contained the essence of his values. When his fellow religious leaders visited him during his presidency, Gus Dur told them there was no guarantee they would be the first to be allowed into heaven. On the contrary, the chance to enter heaven would be
[wanita-muslimah] The National, January 30. 2010 12:26AM UAE - Indonesia tries rehabilitation to wipe out extremism
http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100130/FOREIGN/701299 805 Indonesia tries rehabilitation to wipe out extremism Anuj Chopra * Last Updated: January 30. 2010 12:26AM UAE / January 29. 2010 8:26PM GMT http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=ADDate=20100130Categor y=FOREIGNArtNo=701299805Ref=AR Indonesia launched a de-radicalisation programme after the Bali bombings in 2002, above, which killed 202 people, most of whom were tourists. AP Photo JAKARTA // Imagine, for a moment, a possible headline in the future: Osama bin Laden denounces terrorism and renounces jihad. What are the odds? Is it even possible to wean an extremist like bin Laden off his violent ideology? The likelihood is hard to envisage. But the Obama administration is keen to attempt something very close to that. This week, it agreed to give US$11 million (Dh40m) to Yemen to build a militant rehabilitation centre in the Arab state within the next three months for released Guantanamo Bay detainees. The centre would treat terrorists in much the same way as drug addicts: seeing Islamic radicalism as an anomalous behavioural pattern and treating it with a mix of psychotherapy, counselling and religious re-education, coupled with economic incentives to slowly steer them back into society. This move, analysts say, underscores the realisation that punitive detention or torture in a dank prison does not necessarily reform extremists. Some militants continue to espouse a virulent hatred for the West even after serving time in prison. Killing them can be counterproductive - many of them seek martyrdom. The future of fighting extremism around the world may lie in terrorism rehabilitation. At best, the use of force only temporarily cripples the terrorists' capabilities, said Rohan Gunaratna, a professor of security studies at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. With the ideology intact, capabilities will be replenished and dangerously reinvented. Hence, the only way to stem the current global wave of terrorism is to effectively dismantle the terrorists' ideological beliefs. About 100,000 suspected Islamic terrorists are currently in custody around the world, in large parts in the Middle East, and Central and South East Asia. In recent years, many countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia have launched their own de-radicalisation programmes. But to what degree is this soft approach of mollycoddling militants successful? In Indonesia, for example, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, and known for its more moderate brand of Islam, a South East Asian militant network called Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), believed to be an offshoot of al Qa'eda, has been responsible for string of bombings since 2002, most recently in July. http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=ADDate=20100130Categor y=FOREIGNArtNo=701299805Ref=V6 Farihin Ibnu Ahmad went through extremist rehabilitation in prison, but maintains a Bali nightclub bombing was justified. Anuj Chopra for The National In the past seven years, Indonesia has captured or killed around 300 suspected members of JI, which grew out of religious schools in Java in the 1990s. The archipelago's national police launched a de-radicalisation programme after its first bout of international terrorism - the Bali bombings in 2002 which claimed 202 lives. The programme primarily uses former militants, not clerics, to quell jihadi rage. The inmates are treated with kindness instead of brutality. For some, conjugal visits in prison are permitted. Upon release, they receive economic assistance for their needs such as starting a new business or paying for their children's education. As a measure of success, at least two dozen former members of JI have agreed to co-operate with the government. But despite this, rehabilitation counsellors say it is almost impossible to alter the mindset and entirely expunge the spirit of jihad. Bombing Bali was the right thing to do, said Farihin Ibnu Ahmad, hunching over a bowl of chips in a restaurant in downtown Jakarta. It was necessary to cleanse the place of immoral, lewd foreigners bringing their sins to our country. They spread Aids in our country. Our jihad was against them, the infidels. Mr Ahmad, 43, a former member of JI, uttered these words with numb insouciance. He received weapons training in Pakistan and Afghanistan and spent a year in prison for leading a raid on a Christian village in central Sulawesi in 2000. But for a man who underwent rehabilitation in prison, he shows little remorse for his crime. Although he insisted that he no longer condones violence against civilians, he admitted that several former JI members, including himself, are eager to go to Afghanistan to fight US forces alongside his Muslim brothers. And while he was thankful for the government's financial support to help him start a plastic recycling business after prison,
[wanita-muslimah] The New Straits Times, 28 January 2010
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100128075609/Article/index _html http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/index_html New Straits Times _ Nigerian underwear bomber: 10 terror suspects held 2010/01/28 KUALA LUMPUR: Police last week acted quickly to forestall a serious threat to national security when they nabbed 10 terror suspects with links to international terrorist organisations. The nine foreigners and a Malaysian were also believed to be linked to a Nigerian student who attempted to blow up a US-bound flight on Christmas Day. Among the foreigners nabbed here were several Nigerians but the authorities are tight-lipped over the details. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the nine foreigners had only just arrived here when they were nabbed. They would not have had time to do much and establish themselves here, Hishammuddin said. They posed a serious security threat to the country and have been detained under the ISA (Internal Security Act). He, however, refused to reveal the nationalities of the foreign suspects and organisation they were affiliated to. He said police were tipped off by international anti-terrorism agencies and swung into action. He said terrorist threats were a serious matter regardless of whether they were directed at Malaysia. He rubbished reports claiming there were 50 people arrested under the ISA last week and that 38 of them were released the following day. This is not true. We were working with other international anti-terrorism agencies and nabbed the 10 suspects who are on the international wanted list. The New Straits Times learnt that the 10 suspects were members of a religious group linked to Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, 23, the Nigerian who was arrested in the United States after he attempted to detonate explosives sewn into his underwear on board Northwest Airlines flight 253, which was bound for Detroit from Amsterdam. It was learnt that foreign anti-terrorism agencies informed Malaysian authorities that the 10 were linked to Abdulmutallab and that they were in Malaysia. Authorities are tight-lipped about the arrests, including what they were doing in Malaysia and what status they adopted in entering the country. Abdulmutallab was charged on Dec 26 in the United States with two counts of attempting to blow up and placing a destructive device on a US bound flight. Additional charges were added, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder of 289 passengers and crew of the flight. He is being held at a federal prison awaiting further trial. Upon conviction, he will face a life sentence plus 90 years in prison. Intelligence officials have reported that Abdulmutallab had met radical ulama Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen and that he was trained for the attack by the Yemen-based branch of al-Qaeda. It was reported that Mutallab's father, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, had approached US and Nigerian authorities to warn them about his son's radical views weeks before the alleged attempt to destroy the flight to Detroit. _ Write to the Editor for editorial enquiry or Sales Department for sales and advertising enquiry. Copyright C 2009 NST Online. All rights reserved. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan
From: hoesein [mailto:hoese...@yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, 27 January, 2010 06:00 Subject: Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan Kompas cetak, Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 | 03:38 WIB Jakarta, Kompas - Tepat dua tahun setelah wafatnya salah seorang pendiri RRI, M Jusuf Ronodipuro, Rabu (27/1) malam, RRI akan meresmikan Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro di gedung utama Lembaga Penyiaran Publik di Jakarta. Dalam peresmian ini, Direktur Utama LPP RRI Parni Hadi dijadwalkan akan menandatangani prasasti guna mengenang Jusuf Ronodipuro yang juga dikenal sebagai pembaca teks Proklamasi Kemerdekaan RI melalui siaran radio. Peresmian akan diikuti dengan pergelaran Orkes Simfoni Jakarta (OSJ), yang selanjutnya akan secara teratur menyemarakkan kegiatan auditorium bersama dengan pergelaran seni budaya lain. Pelaksana Harian Dirut LPP RRI Niken Widiastuti, dalam siaran persnya, menjelaskan, di Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro, yang sebelumnya bernama Studio B RRI Jakarta, pernah berlangsung sarasehan kebudayaan yang melahirkan Forum Kebudayaan Nasional pada 5 Juli 2008. Peristiwa itu sekaligus juga dimaksudkan untuk memperingati 90 Tahun Kongres Kebudayaan Indonesia. Khususnya untuk musik klasik, ketika memimpin RRI, Jusuf Ronodipuro, yang juga merekam suara Bung Karno saat membaca teks Proklamasi dan pemekik semboyan RRI ”Sekali di Udara tetap di Udara”, rutin menyelenggarakan pergelaran musik klasik yang ditonton oleh pemimpin nasional dan pencinta musik klasik saat itu. Dalam pergelaran yang akan dipimpin oleh konduktor Amir Katamsi, OSJ akan menampilkan solois Aning Asmoro Katamsi dan tenor Ch Abimanyu. Muhammad Jusuf Ronodipuro, lahir di Salatiga, Jawa Tengah, 30 September 1919 – meninggal di Jakarta, 27 Januari 2008 pada umur 88 tahun. Karir akhirnya adalah duta besar Indonesia (pada kartu namanya tertulis Duta Besar Lengser keprabon). Pada awalnya ia dikenal sebagai penyiar Proklamasi kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia secara luas keseluruh dunia saat menjadi penyiar di radio Jepang Hoso Kiyoku.. Ia juga adalah salah satu pendiri dari RRI. Pernah menjadi Sek.Jen Dep.Penerangan RI. Selain itu ia pernah menjadi duta besar luar biasa di Uruguay, Argentina, dan Chili. Ia meninggal dunia karena sakit (stroke) dan dimakamkan di Taman Makam Pahlawan Kalibata, Jakarta. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] RRI Pro-3, Kamis, 28 Januari 2010 08:43 - Dirut Utama LPP RRI Resmikan Auditorium M.Yusuf Ronodipuro
http://www.pro3rri.com/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=7121:dir ut-utama-lpp-rri-resmikan-auditorium-myusuf-ronodipurocatid=42:nasionalIte mid=109 Dirut Utama LPP RRI Resmikan Auditorium M.Yusuf Ronodipuro Kamis, 28 Januari 2010 08:43 parni_hadi1Jakarta, Tepat 2 tahun setelah wafatnya salah seorang pendiri RRI Muhammad Yusuf Ronodipuro, ke 44 musisi yang tergabung dalam orkes simfoni Jakarta kembali hadir untuk mengisi pagelaran musik klasik sebagai lagu pembuka, Orkes simfoni Jakarta dengan apik membawakan lagu lagu karya Wolfgang Amadius Mozart hingga David Foster yang dipimpin oleh konduktor Amir Katamasi. Orkestra ini juga diperkuat oleh dua orang vokalis kenamaan , Aning Katamsi dan Christopher Abimanyu Sastrodihardjo. secara keseluruhan sebanyak 14 lagu telah disajikan di auditorium M. Yusuf Ronodipuro gedung RRI Jakarta semalam. Dalam pidato sambutannya Dirut Utama LPP RRI Parni Hadi mengatakan peresmian Auditorium ini untuk mengenang dan penghormatan kepada tokoh perintis RRI M. Jusuf Ronodipuro sebagai pembaca teks Proklamasi Kemerdekaan RI melalui siaran radio. Sementara itu sejumlah tokoh yang hadir merasa sangat pantas RRI memberikan penghargaan kepada M. Jusuf Ronodipuro, sebelum acara berlangsung salah satu pendiri media tempo fikri Djufri mengatakan sudah seharusnya RRI mengingatkan kembali jasa yang diberikan M. Jusuf Ronodipuro sebagai pejuang 45. Acara ini dihadiri oleh tamu undangan dari sejumlah duta besar Negara sahabat mantan dan pejabat pemerintahan dan sejumlah tokoh pers Indonesia.(Dian TS/AF) [x] close http://www.pro3rri.com/index.php?view=articlecatid=42%3Anasionalid=7121%3 Adirut-utama-lpp-rri-resmikan-auditorium-myusuf-ronodipurotmpl=componentpr int=1layout=defaultpage=option=com_contentItemid=109 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] KOMPAS, Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 - Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan
http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2010/01/27/03380339/auditorium.jusuf.ronodi puro.diresmikan. http://www.kompas.com/data/css/newcetak/images/logo_kompas_white.png http://www.kompas.com/data/css/newcetak/images/logo_amanat_white.png http://ads.kompas.com/www/delivery/ck.php?n=a42f880acb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBE R_HERE http://ads.kompas.com/www/delivery/avw.php?zoneid=443cb=INSERT_RANDOM_NUMBE R_HEREn=a42f880a Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 PENYIARAN Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 | 03:38 WIB Jakarta, Kompas - Tepat dua tahun setelah wafatnya salah seorang pendiri RRI, M Jusuf Ronodipuro, Rabu (27/1) malam, RRI akan meresmikan Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro di gedung utama Lembaga Penyiaran Publik di Jakarta. Dalam peresmian ini, Direktur Utama LPP RRI Parni Hadi dijadwalkan akan menandatangani prasasti guna mengenang Jusuf Ronodipuro yang juga dikenal sebagai pembaca teks Proklamasi Kemerdekaan RI melalui siaran radio. Peresmian akan diikuti dengan pergelaran Orkes Simfoni Jakarta (OSJ), yang selanjutnya akan secara teratur menyemarakkan kegiatan auditorium bersama dengan pergelaran seni budaya lain. Pelaksana Harian Dirut LPP RRI Niken Widiastuti, dalam siaran persnya, menjelaskan, di Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro, yang sebelumnya bernama Studio B RRI Jakarta, pernah berlangsung sarasehan kebudayaan yang melahirkan Forum Kebudayaan Nasional pada 5 Juli 2008. Peristiwa itu sekaligus juga dimaksudkan untuk memperingati 90 Tahun Kongres Kebudayaan Indonesia. Khususnya untuk musik klasik, ketika memimpin RRI, Jusuf Ronodipuro, yang juga merekam suara Bung Karno saat membaca teks Proklamasi dan pemekik semboyan RRI Sekali di Udara tetap di Udara, rutin menyelenggarakan pergelaran musik klasik yang ditonton oleh pemimpin nasional dan pencinta musik klasik saat itu. Dalam pergelaran yang akan dipimpin oleh konduktor Amir Katamsi, OSJ akan menampilkan solois Aning Asmoro Katamsi dan tenor Ch Abimanyu. (*/nin) (c) 2008 - 2009 KOMPAS.com - All rights reserved powered by: http://www.kompas.com/ http://www.kompas.com/data/css/newcetak/images/logo_kompascom.gif [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Sinar Harapan, Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 - Gedung M Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan
http://www.sinarharapan.co.id/cetak/berita/read/gedung-m-jusuf-ronodipuro-di resmikan/ Rabu, 27 Januari 2010 13:48 Gedung M Jusuf Ronodipuro Diresmikan Jakarta - Masih ingat pemekik semboyan RRI Sekali di Udara tetap di Udara? Nama pemekik itu akan menghiasi nama gedung utama Lembaga Penyiaran Publik di Jakarta. http://www.sinarharapan.co.id/typo3temp/pics/a3feb107b2.jpg http://www.sinarharapan.co.id/typo3temp/pics/a3745eb9e9.jpg Gedung itu kini dinamai M Jusuf Ronodipuro yang juga merupakan salah seorang pendiri RRI. Peresmiannya akan digelar oleh Direktur Utama LPP RRI Parni Hadi, Rabu (27/1) ini, sekaligus penandatanganan prasasti. Muhammad Jusuf Ronodipuro yang wafat di Jakarta, 27 Januari 2008 ini merupakan salah satu motivator RRI. Pembangunan dan peresmian gedung ini sekaligus bertujuan membangkitkan semangat para generasi muda agar mengingat sejarah sekaligus menjadi motivator untuk RRI sebagai salah satu media nasional. Peresmian ini untuk mengenang Jusuf Ronodipuro sebagai pembaca teks Proklamasi Kemerdekaan RI melalui siaran radio, ujar Koordinator bidang Acara dan Pagelaran dari RRI, Sudarno, kepada SH di Jakarta, Rabu. Pada peresmian juga digelar Orkestra Simfoni Jakarta (OSJ). Lagu-lagu dipilih oleh konduktornya, Amir Katamsi, dengan solois yaitu Ch Abimanyu dan Aning Asmoro Katamsi. Aning, yang akan mengisi pergelaran sebagai solois, mengatakan bahwa sebagai solois dalam pergelaran OSJ, dia mengisi beberapa penampilan. Persiapan sudah dilakukan, latihan juga gladi resiknya, yang solo dua lagu, sedangkan tiga lagu berduet bersama Mas Abimanyu. Lagu-lagu Indonesia antara lain karya Ismail Marzuki, ujarnya. Peringatan Kongres Kebudayaan Momen itu bertepatan juga dengan peringatan 90 Tahun Kongres Kebudayaan Indonesia. Untuk pergelaran musik klasik, Jusuf Ronodipuro memang rutin menggelar pergelarannya di media audio yang menjadi milik rakyat Indonesia dan ditonton oleh seluruh tokoh dan pemimpin bangsa pada masa itu, termasuk Soekarno dan Hatta. Sebelumnya, lewat siaran pers, Pelaksana Harian Dirut LPP RRI Niken Widiastuti mengungkapkan bahwa Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro yang dulunya adalah studio dari RRI Jakarta pernah menggelar sarasehan kebudayaan yang kemudian pada 5 Juli 2008 membidani lahirnya Forum Kebudayaan Nasional. Bangunan yang dulunya terdiri dari Studio A, B, C yang biasa digunakan untuk latihan orkestra atau pun broadcast malam nanti akan diisi dengan 14 lagu yang dibawakan oleh Orkestra Simfoni Jakarta (OSJ). Untuk mendatang, gedung ini akan dijadikan sebagai auditorium bersama termasuk untuk kegiatan pergelaran seni dan kebudayaan. (srs/berbagai sumber) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Jakarta (ANTARA News), 26/01/10 16:34 - Orkes Simponi Jakarta Lahir Lagi
http://antaranews.com/berita/1264498496/orkes-simponi-jakarta-lahir-lagi ANTARA News Logo Orkes Simponi Jakarta Lahir Lagi Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Orkes Simponi Jakarta (OSJ) akan tampil di auditorium RRI Jakarta pada 27 Januari 2010, setelah selama bertahun-tahun tidak mampu tampil akibat keterbatasan dana. Tidak boleh RRI sampai tidak mempunyai orkes simponi, kata Direktur Utama Lembaga Penyiaran Publik(LPP) Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Parni Hadi kepada pers di Jakarta, Selasa, ketika menjelaskan tampilnya kembali Orkes Simponi Jakarta pada 27 Januari yang bertepatan dengan diresmikannya Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro. Jusuf Ronodipuro adalah salah satu pendiri RRI dan dia adalah pembaca teks proklamasi berdirinya Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia yang didapatnya dari Kantor Berita ANTARA. Parni Hadi mengatakan, RRI telah mulai melakukan pendekatan terhadap sejumlah tokoh yang dikenal masyarakat sebagai pencinta musik klasik. Kalau tidak ada yang mau menyumbang, maka RRI akan tetap berusaha agar Orkes Simponi Jakarta tetap tampil, katanya. Untuk setiap penampilan di auditorium RRI sendiri, diperlukan biaya sekitar Rp300 juta, sedangkan jika orkes ini menampilkan kemampuannya di tempat lain, maka biaya setiap penampilan ini bisa mencapai Rp500 juta. Ia mengatakan, Auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro ini bisa juga dimanfaatkan oleh berbagai orkes simponi lainnya. Ia memberi contoh orkes simponi dari Universitas Indonesia (UI) telah menyatakan minatnya untuk latihan serta tampil di auditorium RRI ini. Waktu yang dibutuhkan untuk setiap penampilan bisa berkisar antara 2,5 hingga tiga jam. Pada acara penampilan perdana ini, Orkes Simponi Jakarta akan menunjukkan kebolehannya dengan dipimpin konduktor Amir Katamsi. Sementara itu, Amir Katamsi mengatakan pada zaman dahulu para pemusik yang tergabung dalam OSJ adalah para karyawan RRI, sehingga tugas mereka sehari-hari hanya bemain musik. Amir Katamsi menyebutkan pada penampilan perdana ini lagu-lagu yang aka dimainkan tidak akan terlalu berat, sehingga mampu menarik minat para pendengar yang diperkirakan jumlahnya sekitar 350 orang. Sementara itu, ketika menjelaskan peresmian auditorium Jusuf Ronodipuro yang meninggal 27 Januari 2008, Direktur Utama RRI menyebutkan pendiri RRI inilah yang pertama kali memekikkan semboyan Sekali di udara, tetap di udara. Karena itulah, RRI tidak akan pernah melupakan jasa para pejuang termasuk pendiri RRI, kata Parni. Ia menjelaskan pula mantan presiden BJ Habibie serta Ibu Ainun Habibie akan datang pada acara konser ini. (*) COPYRIGHT C 2010 ANTARA PubDate: 26/01/10 16:34 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Channel NewsAsia, 22 January 2010 - Efforts to curb radicalism must continue, say security experts
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/print/images/line.gif http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/print/images/logo.gif Title : Efforts to curb radicalism must continue, say security experts By : Date : 22 January 2010 1749 hrs (SST) URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1032414/1/.ht ml SINGAPORE: Efforts to curb radicalism must continue to prevent radical groups from dominating the religious discourse in the region. That is the hope of security experts who are featured in a new Channel NewsAsia documentary series entitled Misguided. Its producers also interviewed former Jemaah Islamiyah members in Indonesia. Ngruki is a small village in Solo that looks like any others in Indonesia. Of late, Ngruki has been in the spotlight, for this is where the Al-Mukmin Pesantren, an Islamic boarding school is located. A number of people linked to the school have been implicated in terrorist attacks. It was also in Ngruki that the crew of Misguided met ex-JI member Farihin, who in the name of jihad had fought in Afghanistan and Poso in Indonesia. Farihin said: In 2000, I volunteered to fight in Poso. I attacked two Christian villages. Yusoff is another ex-JI member who was just released from a 10-year jail sentence for possessing firearms and explosives. For Yusoff, he heeded the call of jihad by fighting alongside the MILF in Philippines. Both are examples of ex-JI members who were once influenced by radical ideology to a point where armed struggle is seen as legitimate. Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, explained: To me, the centre of gravity of this conflict is the ideology, for these individuals who get sucked into this particular radical movement. Singapore itself is not immune to radical ideology, as seen from various arrests that have taken place here involving JI members. For the first time, the producers were given access to film actual evidence gathered by security agencies from detained JI members. Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng stressed in an interview for this documentary on the importance of Singaporeans remaining vigilant. He said: The terrorism that we face today takes on a different shape this time round. It is a group of people making use or misusing religion to perpetuate their cause. We have to adopt a more holistic plan to counter the problem. We must not allow such groups like the Al-Qaeda JI and many others to misuse the religion to affect our social fabric. He also stressed that the terror threat will not diminish after the demise of Noordin Top and Azahari Hussin. The four part documentary series, Misguided, airs every Friday at 8.30pm on Channel NewsAsia, starting on Friday. - CNA/vm Copyright C 2008 MediaCorp Pte Ltd http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/print/images/line.gif http://www.channelnewsasia.com back to channelnewsasia.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Economist, 21 January 2010 - The books of slaughter and forgetting: Why Indonesia's book bans should not be shrugged off
http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15330733 http://www.economist.com/images/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/index.cfm Economist.com http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/pagehead/Asia.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/black.gif Banyan The books of slaughter and forgetting Jan 21st 2010 From The Economist print edition Why Indonesia's book bans should not be shrugged off Illustration by M. Morgenstern Illustration by M. Morgenstern THE past, even in Indonesia, is a foreign country: they did things differently there. The downfall in 1998 of the 32-year Suharto New Order regime seemed to mark the border as clearly as would a checkpoint and a queue for immigration. This side of the boundary, Indonesia enjoys liberties, a raucous free-for-all of competing ideas and the luxury of democratic choice. On the other side lurked repression, rigged elections, stifled opinions and a long list of banned books. So it is odd and not a little disturbing, in this last respect, to find the freely elected government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono not doing things differently at all. In December the attorney-generals office banned five books. The government is looking at proscribing a further 20, which might, it frets, prove a threat to national unity. If this is continuity, it is also an attempt to disguise it. Most of the books in question are histories; guidebooks to parts of that foreign country which the government still wants to keep out of bounds. One tackles the mysterious atrocities that still haunt Indonesia: the massacre of hundreds of thousands of alleged communists and others as Suharto consolidated his power in 1965-66. Few horrors have been so unexamined. In Cambodia a flawed judicial process is at last asking questions about the Khmer Rouge terror from 1975-78. Even in China the show-trial of the Gang of Four served to hold a few responsible for the crimes of the many in the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). But in the villages of Java and Bali people still live side-by-side with their parents murderers or their families. And the torrent of bloodshed in which they were bereaved has never been officially acknowledged, let alone subjected to a truth-and-reconciliation commission. Back in 1998 the late Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesias greatest novelist, a prison-camp veteran who was by then a deaf and cantankerous but still eloquent old man, enjoyed a moment of untypical optimism. At last, he believed, the truth about 1965 would come out. He dismissed the usual guess of up to 500,000 deaths, claiming there had been 2m. Now that Suharto had gone, there was no reason the truth had to lie buried with the many dead. Today Pramoedyas books, at least, are unbanned. But had he lived, he would be raging against the incompleteness of reformasi (reformation) and the resilience of censorship. Nor is 1965 the only forbidden territory. Also banned (censors do not do irony) is a book called Lekra Doesnt Burn Books, a reference to a leftist cultural institute, very influential in the early 1960s, to which Pramoedya belonged and which was later demonised by the Suharto regime. Another banned volume covers Indonesias controversial annexation of Papua in 1969. An Australian film has also been banned. Balibo presents the story of the deaths of five Australian journalists during the 1975 invasion of East Timor. The film is flawed as a work of history. José Ramos-Horta, president of what is now Timor-Leste, jokingly grumbled to the director that the actor playing him as a young firebrand was not handsome enough. He can have had few other complaints about his portrayal. But its basic plot is the one Australias courts have decided is true: that the five were murdered by Indonesian soldiers. Few Indonesians have much time for Australian efforts to dig up this bit of their countrys past. And some argue that the fuss the usual civil-libertarian suspects have made over the book bans misses the point. Far from sliding back to the authoritarian ways of the past, Indonesia now has arguably the freest and most vibrant press in South-East Asia. Law number 4, passed in 1963 to sanction fierce censorship, was lifted for the press in 1999. So, though books, pamphlets and posters remain under the censors thumb, newspapers and magazines have proliferated. They report the latest political intrigues involving Mr Yudhoyono with little restraint. The attorney-generals office is reportedly also mulling a ban on a book claiming
[wanita-muslimah] Asia Sentinel, Sunday, 3 January 2010 - One Foreigner's Appreciation of Gus Dur
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=2218I temid=175 One Foreigner's Appreciation of Gus Dur Written by Philip Bowring Sunday, 03 January 2010 ImageNot just Indonesia but the Islamic world lost an irreplaceable figure Symbolism matters. By most measures Abdurrahman Wahid - known universally as Gus Dur - was a disaster as Indonesia's president. Even Megawati's years of doing nothing appear an achievement in comparison with Gus Dur's chaotic 21 months in power as Indonesia's fourth leader. Yet is it possible to argue that the almost blind head of the Nahdlatul Ulama, who died on Dec. 30, contributed not just more than anyone to Indonesia's nearly peaceful transition from the Suharto era, of which he was a part, to plural democracy. Even more important, he embodied a tradition of tolerance which is as essential as a common language to the survival of Indonesia, a nation which is not merely multi-religious but harbours a wide variety of interpretations of the religion of the majority. His most obvious contribution as president to inclusiveness and tolerance was his ending of overt discrimination against Chinese people and language. But that was only one aspect of a career built on a profound belief in the importance of common values transcending religious divisions. Despite an unprepossessing physique, he was an effective leader because he combined several elements. He inherited leadership of the NU from his father and grandfather, and hence the quasi-feudal authority that went with the grass roots Muslim organisation. But he added to that true intellectual weight, a profound knowledge not only of Islam but of other religions and philosophies combined with an ability, learned through his years in journalism, to express himself simply and directly. And to those he added an earthiness to which people at large, be they peasants from east Java or politicians in Jakarta could easily relate. The Gus Dur who loved retailing gossip about the sex lives of the first family was the same Gus Dur who was treated with reverence both by his fellow kiai - the religious leaders of Indonesian Muslims - and by attendees at international gatherings. His failings were obvious too and rather typical of one born to high office. To those were added physical decline in the wake of his stroke and what amounted to almost an addiction to politicking which left friends and allies exasperated. If he had been directly elected as president, things might have been different. But he proved temperamentally incapable of the managing the coalition of entrenched interests necessary when the presidency was the gift of the MPR, the country's fractured House of Representatives. His liberal views on separatist issues such as Aceh and Irian Jaya also contributed to his downfall - though in the case of Aceh they paved the way to post-tsunami peace. His failures do not undermine his importance as religious leader and politician in keeping religion and politics separate and ensuring that mainstream Islam in Indonesia remained tolerant and plural, where religion was a matter of private conscience and where the secular state kept out of religious affairs - and vice versa. He also reconciled Islamic teachings with pancasila, Indonesia's amorphous, five-sided state philosophy of belief in one god, humanitarianism, national unity, popular sovereignty and social justice. It was this belief in pluralism which enabled him to be a moderating influence in the latter Suharto years and play a central role in the democratic transition. That a nearly blind cleric who had already suffered strokes was elected president at all was a reflection of his symbolic role in a nation searching for a new basis for harmony. Many Muslim-majority countries (not least Malaysia) could learn much from the liberal intellectual traditions which Gus Dur embodied. Indeed, the physical infirmity of his later years largely prevented him from playing an international role, providing a coherent and good-humored counter to the exclusivism and extremism displayed by religious and political authorities in countries as diverse as Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan. The world, not just Indonesia, needs more Gus Durs. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Voice of America, Jakarta 18 January 2010 - Indonesia Uses 'Soft Approach' to Contain Terrorist Threat
Find this article at: http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Indonesia-Uses-Soft-Approach-to-Co ntain-Terrorist-Threat-81960552.html http://www1.voanews.com/ Voice of America http://images.clickability.com/pti/spacer.gif http://images.clickability.com/pti/spacer.gif Indonesia Uses 'Soft Approach' to Contain Terrorist Threat Brian Padden | Jakarta 18 January 2010 Ritz-Carlton after July 2009 bombing in Jakarta Photo: AP Security guards man a gate outside the bombed Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, 22 Jul 2009 Terrorism tied to Islamic fundamentalism seems to be on the rise in many parts of world -- from Yemen and Pakistan in the Middle East to Southern Thailand and the Philippine island of Mindanao in Southeast Asia. But, in Indonesia -- a country that security experts worried might become a base for training and exporting al-Qaida recruits -- terrorism has significantly declined in the last five years. The Indonesian government's response to terrorism was to take a soft approach, to treat it as a crime and and not a war, and that this approach seems to be working. In July of 2009, terrorists again struck in the heart of Indonesia's capital. Suicide bombers linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, an Indonesian terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaida, detonated explosives in two Western hotels in Jakarta, killing nine people and injuring more than 50 others. This deadly bombing was a reminder that terrorism remains an active threat in Indonesia. But the reality is that terrorism in Indonesia has significantly declined, in the last few years. The Jakarta bombing was the only major terrorist attack in 2009. In 2008, there were no terrorist-related fatalities. Anti-terrorism analyst Sidney Jones says there are only about 2,000 J.I. members in Indonesia, out of a population of 250-million people. Improvements in the social and political conditions in the country have made it harder for terrorist recruitment. We don't have a repressive government. The country is not under occupation. We don't have an alienated minority. And, we don't have any hostile neighbors stirring up trouble or having the inclination to stir up trouble, Jones said. Still, she says, as far back as the late 1990's, terrorism was on the rise Indonesia and, in 2001, there was legitimate concern that the terrorists were gaining public approval, as a wave an anti-American sentiment spread across the Muslim world. Immediately after 9/11 and immediately after the invasion of Afghanistan, there was at least passive support in a number of circles in Indonesia for some kind of retaliatory measures against the United States. And, there was a sense that the invasion was not justified, Jones said. The Bali bombing in 2002, which killed 202 people, brought world attention to the growing terrorist problem in Indonesia. Rather than responding to these terrorist acts with massive military force, the Indonesian government decided to take a softer approach, to treat terrorists as criminals and not as enemy combatants captured on the field of battle. History Professor Azyumardi Azra, with the State Islamic University in Jakarta, says that, by trying the terrorists in open court, the government was able to convince a skeptical public and ambivalent Muslim organizations that these terrorist acts were indigenous Muslim-on-Muslim crimes and not a Western plot. After bringing some of the perpetrators of the Bali bombing one to justice, then it is clear that they did this suicide bombing by themselves, not because of engineering by external intelligence powers, Azra said. This is one of the reasons moderate Muslim organizations changed their attitude. Jones says outside of Indonesia there was criticism that some of the sentences for the terrorists were too lenient. For example, Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir -- an accused J.I. leader -- received only a 30-month sentence after being convicted of conspiracy related to the Bali bombings. He was released after serving a little more than a year. Later, the Indonesian Supreme Court overturned his conviction. Jones says, although the justice system was not perfect, the transparency of the process helped build public confidence and support. There has been almost a strengthening of the rule of law, Jones stated. Because of the way the terrorist cases were handled. Azar says Indonesian Muslim groups are also playing a more prominent role in promoting multiculturalism and tolerance and preventing outside fundamentals groups like the Wahabi and Salafi sects from gaining a foothold. In the last two or three years, moderate Muslim organizations -- like particularly N.U. [Nahdlatul Ulama] and Muhammadiyah -- have come to realize there should be very careful, there should be, pay more attention of the infiltration of these Wahabi or
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, January 17, 2010 - Indonesia finance minister may go over bank rescue
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE60H0ND20100118 http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters Indonesia finance minister may go over bank rescue Sun, Jan 17 2010 JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's reformist finance minister may be replaced by the end of February over her role in the bailout in late 2008 of a small bank, an official at a political party in the ruling coalition said on Monday. The departure of Sri Mulyani Indrawati, a top reformer in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's cabinet, would deal a severe blow to the president's drive to reshape Southeast Asia's largest economy that has won a broad praise from global investors. The official from the Golkar Party, who declined to be quoted by name, told Reuters that Indrawati may be replaced by the end of February, echoing a report on Monday in the English language daily newspaper the Jakarta Post that also quoted anonymous Golkar sources. Golkar is headed by tycoon Aburizal Bakrie, an old-style politician who has long resisted Indrawati's reforms, resulting in tensions within Yudhoyono's government. Bambang Soesatyo of the Golkar Party said Anggito Abimanyu, head of the fiscal policy agency within the finance ministry, would be the best replacement for Indrawati if she stepped down. Local stocks .JKSE, the rupiah and bond prices showed a muted reaction to the reports, but investors kept a wary eye on the development, with the key focus on whether Yudhoyono would be able to find a successor capable of maintaining the reform drive. The markets are concerned about the continuity of reforms and policy. Market sentiment could turn bad, said Andry Asmoro, an economist at Bahana Securities. The political risks are likely to increase if (she) quits. Indrawati could not be reached for comment. The president's spokesman could not be reached either. Both Indrawati and Vice President Boediono have come under attack from non-reformers over their decision to bail out Bank Century, a small lender. Indrawati and Boediono, who was governor of the central bank at the time, both approved the government rescue of Bank Century late in 2008 as Indonesia started to feel the impact of the global financial crisis. Analysts have priced in the possibility of Indrawati's ouster regarding the scandal over the 6.7 trillion rupiah ($729.4 million) government rescue of Bank Century, a Reuters survey showed last week. Indrawati and Boediono were widely expected to play a critical role in attracting foreign investment into one of the region's fastest growing economies and a member of the Group of 20 leading economies. Both technocrats have defended the decision during their testimony before a parliamentary inquiry committee, saying the decision was aimed at preventing the bank's troubles from spreading into a broad-based crisis. President Yudhoyono was re-elected in July on the back of his government's economic policies, reforms, and efforts to tackle corruption. (Reporting by Sara Webb, Telly Nathalia, Gde Anugrah Arka and Sunanda Creagh; Writing by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Alex Richardson) C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Straits Times, Saturday, January 16, 2010 - Gus Dur: A champion of pluralism
The Straits Times Saturday, January 16, 2010 Gus Dur: A champion of pluralism John McBeth, Senior Writer ICON of religious tolerance, enemy of radical Islam and champion of women and ethnic minorities, history will always be kind to the late Abdurrahman Wahid - whether Indonesia declares him a national hero or not. But he was also an enigma, whose disastrous presidency ended with him trying to get the military to head off his impeachment by the House of Representatives, sorely tarnishing his reputation as a democrat in the process. Indeed, as analyst Marcus Meitzner points out, his greatest legacy as a politician may be the Indonesian elite's subsequent reformation of the political system to ensure a similar scenario was never repeated. I got my first taste of Mr Abdurrahman's erratic behaviour back in the mid-1990s during interviews over cups of sugary tea at the run-down headquarters of Nahdlatul Ulama, the mass Muslim organisation he headed with an iron grip from 1984 to 1999. Mostly, it was perfectly rational political discourse, but there would always be a moment when he dropped a piece of outrageously salacious gossip into the conversation that seemed totally out of place. Of course, the man known as Gus Dur had a wicked sense of humour and he may have had a good laugh as I left, still wondering whether he actually believed what he had told me. But after a stroke in early 1998, those seemingly irrational moments became more pronounced. Aides complained that instead of taking sensible advice, he would often listen only to people who had a juicy story to tell. Mr Abdurrahman did not play a key role in then-President Suharto's downfall five months later. His alliance with opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri worried Suharto, but Mr Abdurrahman did nothing to actively oppose him. In the end, with Suharto gone, the manner in which he subsequently became Indonesia's first democratically-elected president makes for far more interesting analysis than many of the disappointments that attended his 21 months in power. In mid-1999, when I interviewed him at his house in the southern Jakarta suburb of Ciganjur, he was not feeling well and spent the hour lying on his bed, a Dutch widow clenched between his bare knees and his face half buried in a pillow. As I strained to hear what he was saying, he took me aback by confidently predicting he would win the October presidential run-off in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Frankly, it seemed a lot of bluster, for Ms Megawati looked to be a shoo-in after her Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) had won a commanding 33 per cent of the vote in the July legislative elections. But by getting MPR chairman Amien Rais to endorse him, the wily Mr Abdurrahman calculated only too well what would happen next. Without understanding the consequences of what it was doing, PDI-P led the vote rejecting incumbent B.J. Habibie's accountability speech, killing off his election bid and turning the contest into a two-horse race. The former ruling Golkar party, already split over the unpopular Dr Habibie, joined the Muslim parties in the centre (where Mr Abdurrahman had his base of support) and Ms Megawati was doomed. Mr Abdurrahman's confrontational approach to the military, beginning with his plan to replace the the palace security guard with police officers, left him fighting political enemies on all fronts and eventually led to widespread disillusionment with civilian governance. While much has been made of his stroke, it was clearly his blindness and his inability to read the body language of those around him that made him increasingly insecure and affected his previously acute sense of timing. For many, his presidency was the lowest point in the post- Suharto era. With the country still in turmoil following the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, it seemed the civilians were dropping the ball. 'He (Mr Abdurrahman) would always listen to your views - then he would simply ignore them,' presidential spokesman Dharmawan Ronodipuro says of that period. 'There were so many different facets to him.' Two of Mr Abdurrahman's main accomplishments as president were to demystify the office itself and to remove discriminatory practices against ethnic Chinese. But it is his earlier pre-presidential years that former presidential secretary Ratih Hardjono likes to remember. Despite what happened later, she still sees him as the first civilian leader to broach the subject of democracy. 'He studied Suharto very carefully,' she says. 'In a way he took on some of (Suharto's) personality in the way he emulated some of his strategies.' While Indonesians struggle to fine- tune a balanced assessment of Mr Abdurrahman's life, the one thing that finds little argument is the late 69-year-old president's standing on Islam. What is worrying for many people is that with his death - and that of fellow Muslim
[wanita-muslimah] CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 17 (AP) - Bali Victim's Fa ther Questions Washington Trial
Bali Victim's Father Questions Washington Trial By ROD McGUIRK CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 17 (AP) - An Australian lawyer whose son was killed in the 2002 Bali bombing said on Saturday that a trial in Washington of alleged terrorist Riduan Isamuddin could jeopardize chances of convicting him over the nightclub attacks that killed 202. Brian Deegan, a former magistrate whose 21-year-old son Josh was among 88 Australians killed in the attack, said Isamuddin, Osama bin Laden's alleged lieutenant better known as Hambali, should be tried in Indonesia where the crime was committed. The Obama administration is conducting an intense security review as part of a plan that could bring the notorious Guantanamo Bay inmate and two associates to Washington for trial, officials said. Hambali is believed to be the main link between al-Qaida and Jemaah Islamiyah, the terror group blamed for the 2002 bombing at two Bali nightclubs. Deegan conceded a trial in Washington would be more open than one in Indonesia, but he fears legal challenges to Hambali's detention in secret CIA prisons, and the intense interrogation he underwent there, could stop any trial in the United States. Hambali was taken into CIA custody in 2003 and later transferred to the U.S. naval base in Cuba. In normal circumstances, the trial should take place in the country where the crime was committed and ... even though I would welcome him being placed upon trial, it just seems to me to be awkward and perhaps opening up a can of worms and a can of defenses if the Americans try him in America, the 54-year-old lawyer from the southern city of Adelaide told The Associated Press. I am now very fearful that he will never see trial because he is possibly, quite probably unfit to stand trial because of the manner he has been treated with torture and privation over so many years, he added. The U.S. Justice Department said no decision has been made yet on how the Hambali case will be handled. The Obama administration has already decided to send one terrorism suspect, alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to federal court, but other Guantanamo inmates will be tried in the military commission system, where the rules of evidence are more lax and prisoners have fewer rights. An Australian tourist who suffered near fatal burns to most of his body in the Bali bombings, Peter Hughes welcomed the prospect of Hambali being tried in Washington. Great idea; especially from the point of view of taking it out of the hands of the Indonesian government which has been fairly soft and corrupt in dealing with terrorists, said Hughes, a 50-year-old roofing contractor from the west coast city of Perth. Hughes is angry that Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir's conviction for giving his blessing to the Bali bombings was overturned by the Indonesian courts after he spent only three years in prison. Former militants allege Bashir headed Jemaah Islamiyah in the early 2000s. The Australian government declined to give an opinion on Saturday on where Hambali should be tried. A decision about a criminal prosecution is one for the U.S. authorities to make, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement. Associated Press writers Matt Apuzzo and Devlin Barrett contributed to this report from Washington. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Sydney Morning Herald, January 16, 2010 - Clinton donor back on radar
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/clinton-donor-back-on-radar-20100115- mcc1.html Clinton donor back on radar January 16, 2010 It was an unfortunate look for Hillary Clinton this week that about 12 hours after vowing to be the US secretary of state who always shows up in Asia, unlike her predecessor Condoleezza Rice, she pulled out of her trip out this way. Whether it was essential for her to be back to help with the rescue and relief effort in Haiti is debatable. Barack Obama was taking command, a US Navy carrier group was on the way, and the US military's Southern Command was swinging into action. We'll see what she contributes. Meanwhile it looks like she is still running for president, anxious not to be compared with George Bush and his indifference to Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. The postponed ministerial talks in Canberra don't matter much, but the planned visits to Papua New Guinea and New Zealand were important: PNG needs attention, and Washington needs to stop snubbing New Zealand. A year into the Obama Administration, the choice of Clinton as foreign minister must still give rise to misgivings at the White House. By strange coincidence, the locus of most concern is Jakarta, Obama's childhood home for several years. Jakarta should signal trouble for Clinton and her husband, the former president Bill, but they can't seem to help being drawn back to it. Devotees of Washington politics will recall the huge campaign funding scandal that broke out around Bill's re-election in 1996. An Indonesian tycoon, James Riady, was revealed to have funnelled money to Bill and other Democrats by getting his Lippo Group to reimburse donors operating as fronts, to avoid restrictions on foreign political donations. There were conspiracy theories that the Chinese communists were behind the ethnic Chinese Indonesian. In 2001, Riady pleaded guilty to ''conspiracy to defraud the United States'' through illegal contributions; he and Lippo were fined $US8.6 million, a record penalty for campaign finance violations. Throughout the George Bush presidency, Riady did not get a visa for travel to the US. It was generally assumed that, having been convicted of fraud, he was covered by the immigration rule barring entry of foreign citizens guilty of crimes involving ''moral turpitude''. Then last May, three months after Hillary became Secretary of State, Riady was given a six-month multiple entry visa by the US embassy in Jakarta. The Washington Post says he used the visa twice last year, to attend graduations of his children and educational institutions including the Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, whose president, Rex Horne, just happens to be the former pastor of the Clintons' church in Little Rock. The Riady connection with Arkansas and the Clintons goes back to 1978 when his father, Mochtar Riady, who was connected with the then Indonesian president Soeharto's top ethnic Chinese business friend, Liem Sioe Liong, bought into a small bank and James was installed as a director. The connection has been nurtured as the Clintons rose from state to national political success. In 2004 Ouachita awarded James Riady an honorary doctorate, not unconnected to his funding of scholarships at the university. Riady likes these doctorates: he got one from La Trobe University in Melbourne in 2007, after donating $800,000. When The Washington Post broke the story of his apparent rehabilitation from moral turpitude two weeks ago, it quoted an unnamed ''senior State Department official'' as saying Hillary Clinton had no knowledge of the decision to let Riady enter the US. The visa was given by the embassy after Riady asked for permission to travel to family graduation ceremonies and he was granted entry for a ''very narrow purpose''. The US ambassador in Jakarta, Cameron Hume, has been given a lot of space in one of Riady's newspapers, the Jakarta Globe, and no doubt he is happy about that. But it is still strange that an envoy would take such a decision on his own, especially one that was bound to bring down a lot of political trouble on his boss's head, as it has now done (Fox News and other right-wing media have gone ballistic). As well as turning up in Arkansas, Riady is still buzzing around the Clintons. He is donating to Bill's charitable foundation and in May he and Bill will be sharing the stage at a real estate convention in Bali. But maybe James Riady, 52, is a nicer character now than he was in 1996? Unfortunately, a lot of controversy still swirls around the tycoon and his Lippo Group. Along with his conspicuous Christianity, there has been a series of vindictive campaigns against business rivals and estranged partners that have brought accusations of corruption of Indonesian officials to help his causes. The targets have included the Malaysian tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan. After a dispute about a pay-TV partnership with Riady, he found that several of his top executives in Jakarta
[wanita-muslimah] Asia Times Online, January 15, 2010 - Indonesia pulls new strings to tackle terror
person, but he committed a crime, said Nasir, referring to the terror leader's advocacy of attacks on innocent civilians. Dialogue over destruction The former JI commander Nasir laughs when talking about the intellectual rather than jihadi debates he now prefers to wage. He says he frequently makes house calls to his former JI colleagues or holds coffee conversations that range from the use of the word Allah by non-Muslims in Malaysia to the US-led war in Afghanistan. People believe Afghanistan and Pakistan have a right to be against America because the Americans invaded them, said Nasir, who claims he is no longer part of JI but needs to stay integrated in its culture to maintain credibility among those he wishes to reform. That also means not aligning himself too closely with the police: I'm not working with the police. I'm not cooperating, I'm assisting. The wording is very important to me. Nasir's job has become easier as al-Qaeda's increasingly brutal tactics, including attacks on hotels and other public places, have isolated Indonesia's already small segment of extremists. The idea of using dialogue in the war against extremism has also recently gained traction in government with the formation of an agency that will coordinate across ministries and the departments of Education, Social Affairs and Industry. To be sure, few terrorists imagine a life after jihad that involves selling kebabs, raising chickens or providing herbal medicine to poor Muslim communities. But that is the goal of some civil society groups in Indonesia working with government to provide jobs and economic assistance for convicted terrorists after they are released from prison. The idea is that terrorism is not dealt with only by combat, but also by winning the hearts and minds of terrorists, said Rhousdy Soeriaatmadja, coordinator for international cooperation at the Security Ministry's Counter-Terrorism Coordinating Desk. The elevation of that desk to agency status, whose head reports directly to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is part of the government's 100-day plan to supplement its use of force and intelligence with terror prevention techniques. If all goes to plan, the agency would diminish the current ad hoc nature of counter-terrorism efforts and improve cooperation with civil society groups looking to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized who are most easily persuaded by radical propaganda, said Dharmawan Ronodipuro, spokesman for the head of the Counter-Terrorism Desk. According to Rhousdy, that would include post-release monitoring not only by the police, but also by local people in areas where terror convicts are released. His desk has led an education program that uses wayang puppet shows to teach people the dangers of terrorism. The initial training, which involved 103 puppet masters in Bandung and another 107 in Central Java, provided puppeteers with information and materials about terrorism. Five performances took place in 2009, but the ministry has been muted about its involvement for fear that people would be less accepting if they felt the show was government propaganda. De-radicalization efforts need to come from the government, but socialization should be tied to other sources, said Rhousdy. So far, counter-terrorism operations have focused mainly on intelligence-gathering, which led to a series of successful operations last year. For instance, a raid in September killed JI mastermind and bombing expert, Noordin Top, but it also raised criticism from human-rights groups that accused the police of using excessive and disproportionate force in their operations. To dismantle JI's ideological infrastructure, including the schools and radical publishing houses that give rise to and disseminate extremist ideologies, police and military officers have called for stronger anti-terrorism laws similar to those in use in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. Yet draconian detention laws fuel the grievances and resentments created by indiscriminate police sweeps in search of those involved in plotting terrorist acts, said Noor Huda Ismail, whose Institute for International Peacebuilding runs a pilot de-radicalization program in some of the prisons where Indonesia's 148 terrorist inmates are held. Security analysts and foreign governments continue to monitor Indonesia's brand of extremism to determine how deep the roots of terrorism run in the world's largest Muslim country. Detachment 88 chief Usman has said that Indonesia is still at risk from attacks by new cells that formed in the wake of Top's assassination. Even the likes of Nasir say they would return to jihad if Indonesia were threatened by an attack from outsiders. But the ideological drive to create an Islamic state seems to have cooled among former extremists, according to Nasir. He notes that an Islamic state has been achieved in Aceh - the one province in Indonesia that operates according to strict sharia law
[wanita-muslimah] The Brookings Institution, January 9, 2010 - Al Qaeda's Yemen Connection, America and the Global Islamic Jihad
http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/1230_terrorism_yemen_riedel.aspx http://www.brookings.edu/ http://www.brookings.edu/i/global/logo_sm.gif Quality. Independence. Impact. http://www.brookings.edu/ Home | http://www.brookings.edu/about/ContactUs.aspx Contact Us | http://www.brookings.edu/media.aspx Media Resources Saturday January 9, 2010 Welcome | Register http://www.brookings.edu/profile/userregistration.aspx| Log in http://www.brookings.edu/profile/Portfolio/PortfolioHelper.aspx Al Qaeda's Yemen Connection, America and the Global Islamic Jihad http://www.brookings.edu/topics/terrorism.aspx Terrorism, http://www.brookings.edu/topics/middle-east.aspx Middle East, http://www.brookings.edu/topics/islamic-world.aspx Islamic World http://www.brookings.edu/experts/riedelb.aspx Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow, http://www.brookings.edu/foreign-policy.aspx Foreign Policy, http://www.brookings.edu/saban.aspx Saban Center for Middle East Policy The Brookings Institution December 30, 2009 - The attempt to destroy Northwest Airlines flight 253 en route from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day underscores the growing ambition of al Qaeda's Yemen franchise, which has grown from a largely Yemeni agenda to become a player in the global Islamic jihad in the last year. Since merging with the al Qaeda franchise in Saudi Arabia last January and renaming itself Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), it has stepped up operations in Yemen itself, struck into Saudi Arabia, and now operates on the global stage. The weak Yemeni government of President Ali Abdallah Salih, which has never fully controlled the country and now faces a host of growing problems, will need significant American support to defeat AQAP. Protesters shout slogans as they march on a street in the southern Yemeni town of Radfan. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Images/RC/Y/YA%20YE/yemen002_rc.jpg Protesters shout slogans as they march on a street in the southern Yemeni town of Radfan. http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/Images/RC/Y/YA%20YE/yemen002_rc.jpg View Larger Reuters/STR New Al Qaeda has long been active in Yemen, the original homeland of Osama bin Laden's family, and one of its first major terror attacks was conducted in Aden in 2000, when an al Qaeda cell nearly sank the USS Cole. A year ago, the al Qaeda franchises in Saudi Arabia and Yemen merged after the Saudi branch had been effectively repressed by the Saudi authorities under the leadership of Deputy Interior Minister Prince Muhammad bin Nayif. The new AQAP showed its claws last August, when it almost assassinated the prince with a suicide bomber who had passed through at least two airports on the way to his attempt on Nayif. The same bombmakers who produced that device probably also manufactured the bomb that Omar al Farooq Abdulmutallab used on Flight 253. In claiming credit for the Detroit attack, AQAP highlighted how they had built a bomb that all the advanced, new machines and technologies and the security boundaries of the world's airports had failed to detect. They praised their mujahedin brothers in the manufacturing sector for building such a highly advanced device, and promised that more such attacks will follow. Yemen has sought to repress al Qaeda off and on for the last decade, with little success. The Saleh government has other more immediate problems on its plate, in particular a rebellion among Shia Zaydi tribes known as Houthis in the north that has escalated in the last two months with attacks by the rebels into Saudi territory. The southern part of the country, which only merged with the north in 1990 and fought a bitter civil war in 1994 when it tried to break away, is hostile to the Saleh government and is looking for a chance to split off again. The economy is weak and heavily dependent on dwindling oil reserves, and the majority of the 23 million Yemenis are illiterate and poor. The Obama administration has offered Saleh additional military assistance, and has encouraged the government to strike hard at al Qaeda hideouts in the last few weeks. The attacks have killed some AQAP leaders, but it is unclear exactly how serious a blow these attacks have inflicted on the group as a whole. AQAP has vowed revenge for the strikes, which it blames on an alliance between America, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Saleh government. AQAP has also provided refuge for the Yemeni-American cleric Shaykh Anwar al-Awlaki. Al-Awlaki was in contact with U.S. Army Major Nidal Hassan, who killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas on November 5, 2009. In an interview with Al Jazeera released on December 23, Awlaki said he had encouraged Nidal to kill his fellow soldiers because they were preparing to go to Afghanistan and were part of the Zionist-Crusader alliance that al Qaeda says it is fighting. The next day, December 24, Awlaki was reported to be among those killed in a Yemeni-American strike on the AQAP leadership, but that is still
[wanita-muslimah] The Christian Science Monitor, January 5, 2010 - To rein in Al Qaeda in Yemen, Britain taps its colonial past
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/0105/To-rein-in-Al-Qaeda-in-Yemen -Britain-taps-its-colonial-past CSMonitor.com http://www.csmonitor.com/ http://www.csmonitor.com/About/Contact/Feedback/About-these-Ads About these ads _ http://www.csmonitor.com/ Christian Science Monitor To rein in Al Qaeda in Yemen, Britain taps its colonial past Analysts in the UK says Britain's colonial history in Yemen may give it useful insights and expertise in dealing with the presence of Al Qaeda supporters there. Temp Headline Image _ By Ben http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/About/Contact/Staff-Writers/Ben-A rnoldy Quinn Correspondent posted January 5, 2010 at 9:29 am EST London Both the US and Britain resumed their diplomatic operations in Yemen Tuesday after terror fears shut both countries' embassies. But despite the more tentative restoration of activities by the British their doors in Sanaa remain closed to the public some suggest that Britain is better positioned than the US to confront the threat from Al Qaeda in Yemen. While memories of Britains colonial involvement still arouse hostility among Yemenis, historians point out that the UK maintained its influence in southern Yemen for more than 100 years because of the savvy it developed in negotiating with and buying off tribal leaders. It will tap into that knowledge to share strategies for isolating Al Qaeda in Yemen from tribal protectors at a major intergovernmental conference in London this month. Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced last week that the summit on countering radicalization in Yemen would be held in parallel with a conference on Afghanistan in the British capital on Jan. 28. The forum will also focus on arranging a massive new transfusion of aid to the troubled country. Michael Clarke, director of the influential Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), says dealing with a new international security threat in Yemen revolves largely around synchronizing intelligence, but the London conference will be an opportunity to coordinate assistance to the country, ranging from security training to development aid. While he characterizes the timing and location of this month's summit as coincidental, he says that Britain has a lot to offer on Yemen. This is one of the issues where we may have more to offer because of our links and influence than in other areas of the world, such as the Pakistan border areas, he says. In some ways, Britain has got better visibility in Yemen than the Americans. I would suggest that the British have got better human intelligence on the ground, he says. For their part, British intelligence officials are thought to regard the threat in Yemen as coming from Al Qaeda members associated with the main organization in Afghanistan, rather than a new local branch. My understanding is that British intelligence has been tracking some Al Qaeda people who were moving from Pakistans borders areas because it has become more difficult for them to operate there, says Mr. Clarke. British officials are fairly clear that the Predator strikes, whatever the negative impact of them in Pakistan, have been very effective on the targets themselves. Britain acted before Christmas Day attack Media reports in Britain suggest that before the failed Christmas Day bomb attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Britain had quietly sent a military unit to train Yemeni forces in surveillance, intelligence-gathering, and offensive operations. The Sunday Telegraph reported that the deployment was motivated by concerns over British-based jihadists traveling to Yemen for terrorist training. The newspaper said that up to 20 British nationals traveled to the country last year to be trained, according to British government sources. Other experts on Yemen point out that Britain had also taken a lead on development aid in advance of the current focus on terrorism from within Yemens borders. While last years US Agency for International Development (USAID) provision for Yemen was $34 million, the funding provided by Britains Department for International Development (DFID) was $40 million (£25 million), a figure that is expected to rise to $60 million (£37 million) this year. The British took the lead from 2006 in encouraging Yemens neighbors to provide greater development assistance, says Ginny Hill, director of the Yemen Forum at Londons Chatham House think tank. She points out that the Bush administration's Millennium Challenge program in Yemen was suspended in 2007 after it emerged that a man accused of organizing the bombing of the USS Cole had escaped custody http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2009/1229/What-other-Al-Qaeda-li nked-attacks-have-involved-Yemen and was negotiating for his freedom through tribal intermediaries. According to Clive Jones, a Leeds University expert in the history of Yemen, providing money to tribal areas in Yemen is the best way to
[wanita-muslimah] Economist.com, January 7, 2010 - Hearts, minds and Mecca: The rising profile of Muslim students in the Western world
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subject id=1604388story_id=15219881 http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/ http://www.economist.com/images/logos/ecdc_134x36.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/index.cfm Articles by subject : http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/topics.cfm Topics : http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif INTERNATIONAL Universities and Islam Hearts, minds and Mecca Jan 7th 2010 | ISTANBUL, LAGOS AND TORONTO From The Economist print edition The rising profile of Muslim students in the Western world WHEN news emerged of the life-story of the Nigerian who tried to blow up a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day, there were cries of bewilderment in some quarters, groans of dismay in others, and shouts of I told you so from a small army of Cassandras. Report Digital Report Digital Learning to mix Whatever motivated Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to become a terrorist, it was not material deprivation; he came from a rich family. The biographical detail that fascinated many terrorism-watchers was his record as president of the Islamic Society at University College London, where he had studied engineering. Some found his choice of subject significant. A forthcoming book by Steffen Hertog, a sociologist, will argue that terrorists include a high number of engineers-not because of their need for bomb-making skills, but perhaps because of a mindset that likes rigidity and binary choices. In the young man's homeland, meanwhile, people noted that for all their problems-including the existence of rival, armed fraternities known as cults but unconnected to faith-Nigerian universities are not known as hotbeds of Islamic extremism. It was apparently the loneliness and confusion of life in Britain that set this student on a path that led to terror. Long before his bungled effort hit the headlines, the role of Islamic Societies (ISOCs in student jargon) in British colleges-and of similar associations on other Western campuses-was sparking arguments. In 2008 a report and opinion poll from the Centre for Social Cohesion, a right-of-centre think-tank, had argued that these Muslim student associations in Britain needed much more careful watching. They seemed to be acting as incubators for fundamentalist ideas that favoured self-segregation by Muslims, and dreamt of Islamic governance and law. And as the report noted, several young Britons involved in terrorism had a record of ISOC activism; for example, Yassin Nassari, convicted in 2007 of bringing missile plans into Britain, had led one branch of the ISOC at the University of Westminster. The CSC report triggered an angry response from Britain's Federation of Student Islamic Societies (FOSIS) and 52 of its member bodies, calling the study ideologically biased and motivated by.malice. The current FOSIS president, Faisal Hanjra, responded to the news of Mr Abdulmutallab's failed attack by insisting that there was no credible evidence to suggest that British universities were arenas of radicalism. But much of the information cited in the CSC report is uncontentious. At almost every British university, there is an ISOC to which practising Muslim students, seeking soulmates, soon gravitate. The societies' roles include organising prayer rooms and Friday sermons, and securing halal food. Since it was created in 1962, the leadership of FOSIS has often had some ideological overlap with the Egyptian-based Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat e-Islami, the Pakistani Islamist party. That does not imply sympathy for al-Qaeda's campaign of global terror, but it does imply adherence to a version of political Islam. In their countries of origin, Islamist political movements have long experience of recruiting on campus and of forming small groups which owe something to far-leftist prototypes. In Sudan, for example, veterans of the Brotherhood, which took power in the 1989, retain vivid memories of student activism, with a cell structure that Leon Trotsky would have recognised. Such secrecy is not usually necessary in Western countries, but the memory of working in semi-covert conditions must have an effect on the culture of Islamist movements wherever they function. In the 1990s another global Islamist movement, Hizb ut-Tahrir-which aspires to a caliphate and eschews electoral democracy-was very active on British campuses. It has since lowered its profile. At the other end of the Islamic spectrum, Turkish
[wanita-muslimah] Economist.com, January 6, 2010 - Spooked: The troubles of American intelligence
http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15210109fsrc= nwl http://www.economist.com/images/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/index.cfm Economist.com http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/pagehead/UnitedStates.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/blocks/black.gif American intelligence Spooked Jan 6th 2010 | NEW YORK From Economist.com The troubles of American intelligence AP AP ON TUESDAY January 5th, Barack Obama met officials related to counterterrorism to discuss how Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, a Nigerian, was allowed to board a Detroit-bound plane and try to blow it up, despite the fact that America's spies had useful information on him. His father had told the American embassy in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, that his son was being radicalised. The CIA had heard about plans to develop a Nigerian suicide bomber. And it was known that Mr Abdul Mutallab had travelled to Yemen for training. But as Mr Obama said after the meeting, there was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had. Some have blamed the office of the Director of National Intelligence. The post, created in 2004, was meant to get spies to stop thinking in terms of need to know and instead to think that they need to share. A National Counterterrorism Centre (NCTC) was also created. But critics of that approach think that centralisation and all-source analysis that is meant to produce comprehensive, authoritative reports, are inadequate. Rather, spies and decision-makers (such as consular officials who decide whether to grant visas) need more flexibility and fluidity, the ability to share information more quickly and freely without going through central channels. In the wake of the attempted Christmas attack, further attempts to shake up intelligence methods and organisation will follow. So far, they have been piecemeal: the government has decreed that travellers from 14 countries where al-Qaeda is thought to have recruits will undergo full-body screening before flying to America. But it is unclear whether other countries will implement these rules immediately. The CIA, State Department and the NCTC are all reviewing what went wrong and are likely to come up with differing conclusions. As for more substantive intelligence shake-ups in the wake of the Christmas attack, Mr Obama is under pressure for quick action which may include sackings, even if such steps may not lead to good policy. Less reported, but causing more devastation, was the bomb attack on the CIA's base in Khost, in Afghanistan. A Jordanian suicide bomber killed seven American employees and a Jordanian spy, the worst CIA death toll since a 1983 bombing in Beirut. It emerged on Monday that the CIA had not only been bloodied but duped. An Islamic extremist had pretended to be turned by Jordanian intelligence and apparently fed American and Jordanian handlers enough reliable information to make himself trusted. When he claimed to have urgent intelligence, he was whisked through security into the base. This is a new kind of threat to the CIA. Few had suspected that al-Qaeda would be sophisticated enough to develop a double agent who could fool both the Jordanians and the CIA. Jordan's intelligence service is one of the most professional and trusted partners of the CIA. The agency depends strongly on other friendly spy services for cultural, linguistic and other kinds of expertise. The CIA will now have to add countering al-Qaeda's spy activities and worrying whether its allies are doing the same to its already daunting list of tasks. The government of Yemen, in particular, has become an important, if somewhat dubious, ally in the fight against al-Qaeda. Its security forces have claimed victories against al-Qaeda, but some worry that these too have been penetrated by the terrorist group. The list of challenges goes on. The head of American military intelligence in Afghanistan complained in a report this week that American spies there are too focused on killing terrorists, and not on understanding the country's politics, economy and society. The spooks are re-thinking a 2007 National Intelligence Estimate that said Iran had given up working on a nuclear-bomb design; they now think that low-level work may indeed be going on. Spies like to say that their failures are known to the world, their successes hidden. At least half of that is true beyond a doubt. http://www.economist.com/images/Spacer.gif http://www.economist.com/images/Spacer.gif Copyright C 2010 The Economist
[wanita-muslimah] Surabaya Post.co.id, 9 Januari 2010 - Dari Paris bersalju, menengok kehidupan Gus Dur yang Bergolak
http://www.surabayapost.co.id/?mnu=beritaact=viewid=d1fe1fd1f1a352f229bf4d 24630264e2jenis=b706835de79a2b4e80506f582af3676a http://www.surabayapost.co.id/images/logo_cetak.gif Dari Paris bersalju, menengok kehidupan Gus Dur yang Bergolak Sabtu, 9 Januari 2010 | 09:12 WIB http://www.surabayapost.co.id/gambar/4c813bd947fdac02c67d7808831d351b.jpg Andre Feillard http://www.surabayapost.co.id/images/hRule2.gif Oleh : Andrée Feillard - Peneliti Senior bidang sejarah di CNRS (Pusat Penelitian Prancis) Berada sangat jauh di kota Paris yang dinginhari ini bersuhu di bawah 7 derajat celcius dan salju dimana manakabar mengenai wafatnya Gus Dur menjadi sulit dipercaya. Pernah Gus Dur mengunjungi saya disini, satu hari siang pada bulan september 1999 di pinggiran kota Paris yang hijau sekarang putih semua. Waktu pulang, dia pun terpaksa naik kereta api seperti orang biasa untuk menghindari kemacetan lalu lintas. Orang lain mungkin sudah menggerutu, tetapi Gus Dur tidak. Ia pun bersukacita dan bergurau, mirip seorang pemuda ceria yang melakukan kegiatan jalan-jalan yang tak terduga. Gus Dur senang dengan hal-hal yang tak terduga. Di kereta api pinggiran kota itu, kami berbicara sebentar tentang arah politik yang mau ia ambil, dan tentang kesempatan yang akan dilewatkannya bila itu terjadi (termasuk rencana mengunjungi tempat-tempat bersejarah di Prancis bersama isteri dan empat putrinya, sesuatu yang sudah lama diinginkannya). September 1999 itu merupakan bulan terakhir dalam hidupnya sebagai pemimpin sebuah komunitas keagamaan untuk menjadi kepala negara di sebuah negara yang multiagama. Abdurrahman Wahid bukan sembarangan orang untuk memegang posisi seperti ini. Bukankah dia adalah anak pertama Wahid Hasyim, mantan menteri agama Indonesia, yang pidatonya pada 2 Januari 1950 mungkin bisa dilihat sebagai sebuah pertanda prophetic? Izinkan saya mengutip pidato Wahid Hasyim itu yang diucapkan di tempat khusus pada hari khusus : di istana negara, pada perayaan Maulud Nabi.. Pidato ini saya baca pertama kali waktu mulai meneliti Nahdlatul Ulama, pada tahun 1980an, di buku Aboebakar Atjeh yang diterbitkan Departemen agama setelah wafatnya Wahid Hasyim. Entah kenapa, pidato itu muncul kembali di benak saya: Bismillah hirrahman nirrahim. Sungguh sangat menggembirakan hati, bahwa hari-hari pertama daripada Republik Indonesia Serikat, sebagai bentuk jang dianggap sah daripada kemerdekaan Rakjat Indonesia jang telah ditjapai pada 17 Agustus 1945, djatuh pada hari-hari dari dua orang pemimpin dunia jang sangat kenamaan, jalah Nabi Muhammad s.a.w. pembawa adjaran-adjaran al-Quran dan sjariat Islam, serta Nabi Isa bin Marijam a.s., pembawa adjaran-adjaran Indjil dan sjariat Nasrani. Djarang terdjadi dalam perhitungan tahun, bahwa dua peristiwa itu berlaku dalam masa jang berdekatan, ialah hari lahir suatu negara dengan hari lahir seorang nabi Allah. Tetapi lebih djarang lagi terjadinya hari lahir sesuatu negara dengan hari-hari lahir dua orang pesuruh Allah seperti pada peristiwa lahirnya Republik Indonesia Serikat ini . (Aboebakar Atjeh, Sedjarah Hidup KH Wahid Hasjim, 1957, hlm. 677). Sekarang ini, sebagian besar pers Indonesia merayakan Gus Dur sebagai tokoh pluralis, dan ini tampaknya dibenarkan dengan rasa duka mendalam dari kaum Buddha dan Kristen yang bersatu untuk berkabung dengan kaum Muslim. Memang, selama ini, tak diragukan, banyak orang datang pada Gus Dur untuk meminta perlindungan dan keadilan pada masa transisi yang riuh: pada 1990an, kaum minoritas datang waktu mereka sedang mengalami efek buruk identity politics (politik identitas menekankan perbedaan kelompok untuk tujuan politik), dengan perusakan gereja yang makin banyak. Demikian juga datang kaum demokrat yang saat itu menghadapi rezim Soeharto yang mencoba bertahan at all costs. Selanjutnya pada 2000an, yang datang pada Gus Dur adalah kaum Muslim pluralis (dan liberal) saat mereka menghadapi kelompok Islamist radikal. Mereka semua mendatangi Gus Dur dengan harapan besar, mungkin juga harapan yang terlalu besar, yang terkadang bisa saja dikecewakan. Namun siapa lagi selain dia yang bisa menyatukan begitu banyak kelompok lemah? Dan siapa lagi yang memiliki keberanian untuk melakukan pembelaan dengan membawa gaung yang begitu kuat? Tahun 1980an dan tahun 1990an berbeda. Pada 1980an, Gus Dur mengambil peran kunci untuk menghentikan kebuntuan politik, setelah mendengarkan ulama senior yang lelah dengan politik dan dampak negatifnya terhadap kegiatan keagamaan. Sedangkan sepuluh tahun kemudian, pada 1990an, peran kuncinya adalah menjaga pluralisme. Saya teringat pada satu momen istimewa di Lampung pada tahun 1992, ketika di suatu malam yang sunyi, duduk bersama beberapa kaum intelektual, dia menyampaikan ungkapan panjang amarah yang merupakan ungkapan rasa kekecewaannya yang mendalam dengan pembentukan ICMI, yang Gus Dur lihat sebagai sindrom akan munculnya politik identitas. Diprediksinya ini akan menghancurkan
[wanita-muslimah] Surabaya Post.co.id, 9 Januari 2010 - Susno Pegang Kartu Truf
http://www.surabayapost.co.id/?mnu=beritaact=viewid=f3ebd784518ba600e0ae28 8653819b5ejenis=b706835de79a2b4e80506f582af3676a http://www.surabayapost.co.id/images/logo_cetak.gif Susno Pegang Kartu Truf Sabtu, 9 Januari 2010 | 12:52 WIB http://www.surabayapost.co.id/gambar/0d617cf311ba786135cd48d1a8f7d8bd.jpg Tak mudah pecat Susno karena kantongi data 15 rekening Pati Polri Jakarta - Meski dianggap melanggar UU Nomor 2 Tahun 2002 tentang Peraturan Disiplin Anggota maupun Etika dan Profesi Polri, tidak mudah memecat Mantan Kabareskrim Mabes Polri Komjen Pol Susno Duadji. Sebab, Susno memiliki kartu truf 15 nama perwira tinggi (Pati) Polri yang memiliki rekening bank dalam jumlah tak wajar. ''Tidak mudah memecat Susno. Orang tidak bisa seenaknya memecat Jenderal Bintang Tiga. Orang menjadi bintang tiga itu bukan orang sembarangan. Risikonya terlalu besar bagi institusi kepolisian, ujar Ketua Indonesia Police Watch (IPC) Neta S Pane kepada Surabaya Post di Jakarta, Sabtu (9/01). Menurut Neta, Polri tidak akan berani memecat Susno. Karena Susno memiliki kartu truf yang setiap saat bisa dimainkan. ''Susno katanya menyimpan nama 15 rekening Pati Polri yang diduga memiliki transaksi mencurigakan. Data ini diperoleh Susno saat dia menjadi Wakil Ketua Pusat Pelaporan dan Analisa Transaksi Keuangan (PPATK),'' ujarnya. PPATK memiliki data tentang rekening misterius, kata Neta, aliran dana yang mencurigakan terhadap 15 Pati Polri itu. Sayangnya, tidak disebutkan nama 15 Pati Polri yang memiliki rekening bank yang tidak wajar itu. ''Soal nama, coba tanya langsung ke Pak Susno saja. Tidak etis kalau saya yang sebut. Jadi, kalau dia (Susno_red) dikuyo-kuyo terus, dia akan buka nama-nama Pati itu. Konflik ini berbahaya karena akan melebar ke mana-mana. Saya berharap agar petinggi Polri bersikap arif dan bijak sana, kata Neta mengingatkan. Karen itu, Neta yakin Susno tak akan mungkin dipecat Kapolri. Dampaknya terlalu besar bagi institusi Polri. Selain itu, kata Neta, Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Pidana (KUHP) menjamin setiap warga negara bisa memberikan kesaksian di pengadilan. Kalau tidak hadir, Susno akan diancam pidana. Karena itu, kehadiran Susno dalam sidang Antasari semata-mata demi menghormati UU dan poin-poin dalam KUHP. Apa pun dalil Susno, yang jelas Polri tengah mempertimbangkan untuk memberi sanksi. Saat ini Susno dihadapkan pada pemeriksaan dugaan pelanggaran disiplin dan kode etik Polri dengan ancaman mendapatkan teguran hingga pemberhentian tidak dengan hormat (PTDH). Ikhwal sanksi kepada Susno ini disampaikan Kepala Divisi Humas (Kadivhumas) Mabes Polri Irjen Pol Edward Aritonang. Neta mengatakan, ancaman pemecatan itu berlebihan. Sebagai Pati, Edward tidak mengerti keputusan Susno yang juga Pati di Polri. Neta melihat ancaman pemecatan kepada Susno ini hanya gertak sambal. ''Edward yang lama tenggelam di Mabes Polri tiba-tiba keluar kandang dan coba-coba unjuk gigi. Ini yang kita sayangkan. Awalnya, saya kira Edward ini berwatak reformis, ternyata kental jiwa Orde Baru, sindirnya. Sebelumnya Kamis (7/1), Susno menjadi saksi meringankan terdakwa mantan Ketua Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) Antasari Azhar pada sidang pembunuhan Direktur PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, Nasrudin Zulkarnaen, di Pengadilan Negeri Jakarta Selatan. Susno berseragam lengkap namun mengatasnamakan pribadi. Neta mengatakan, kesaksian Susno pada sidang Antasari merupakan wujud reformasi pada lembaga Polri. Sikap Susno ini mendapatkan banyak dukungan dari masyarakat. ''Apa yang dilakukan Susno ini sebagai wujud reformasi perwira tinggi Polri.'' Di tempat terpisah, anggota Komisi Kepolisian Nasional (Kompolnas) Novel Ali mengimbau Kapolri tak memberi sanksi Susno atas kehadirannya sebagai saksi dalam sidang Antasari. ''Demi akuntabilitas, seharusnya Susno tak diberi sanksi,'' ujar Novel Ali saat melayat pakar hukum Prof Satjipto Rahardjo di Semarang, sore kemarin. Menurut Novel, langkah Susno adalah sebuah masukan bagi korpsnya. Namun di sisi lain, Susno juga harus bisa membuktikan apa yang dilakukan bukan karena dendam. Dosen FISIP Undip ini menambahkan, reformasi di tubuh Polri menyangkut aturan dan keorganisasian berjalan baik. Namun reformasi sisi kultur macet. Kapolri Disorot Komisi III DPR RI juga mempertimbangkan membentuk Panitia Khusus (Pansus) guna menengahi persoalan antara Susno dengan Kapolri. Namun realisasi pembentukan Pansus ini masih dibahas di Komisi Iii. ''Ini masih dibahas di internal Komisi III. Kalau memang belum tidak ada titik temu dan keduanya terus bertikai maka Pansus akan dibentuk, ujar Herman Herry, anggota Komisi III DPR. Neta S Pane mengatakan, Pansus Komisi III DPR memang sangat perlu dibentuk. Sebab Komisi III menilai melebarnya persoalan ini akkibat ketidakbecusan Kapolri menyelesaikan persoalannya. Sementara itu, Ikatan Mahasiswa Muhammadiyah (IMM) juga menilai Kapolri Bambang Hendarso Danuri (BHD) gagal mereformasi Polri. Hal itu diungkapkan Sekjen DPP IMM Ton
[wanita-muslimah] Financial Times, December 28 2009 01:06 - Indonesia's tact ical change pays off
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5d87dfae-f340-11de-a888-00144feab49a.html?nclick_c heck=1 Financial Times FT.com logo http://media.ft.com/t.gif http://media.ft.com/t.gifAsia-Pacific Indonesia's tactical change pays off By John Aglionby in London Published: December 28 2009 01:06 | Last updated: December 28 2009 01:06 When Alexander Downer, then Australia's foreign minister, was asked in 2007 to name a country that had made good progress in tackling Islamist terrorism, he said: Exhibit A is Indonesia. They have not always done as westerners have suggested they do, he continued, but they have nevertheless done an extraordinary job in getting results. During the past decade, counter-terrorism officials in the world's largest majority-Muslim country and its south-east Asian neighbours have had plenty of results to get. Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaeda affiliate, and its splinter groups have perpetrated at least six big attacks in Indonesia, killing hundreds of people, and many smaller ones in their campaign to transform the region into an Islamist caliphate. These included the Bali http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4d52fad4-356b-11da-903d-0e2511c8.html bombings in 2002 and 2005, near-simultaneous Christmas eve attacks on more than a dozen Indonesian churches in 2000 and bombings http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/76c46078-7276-11de-ba94-00144feabdc0.html of five-star hotels in Jakarta in 2003 and again last July. But helped by significant foreign training and funding, Jakarta has arrested more than 450 radicals since the first Bali attacks. All have been prosecuted transparently rather than being detained indefinitely without charge. More than 250 have been released. Only a few militants are thought to be at large. Brigadier General Tito Karnavian, the head of Detachment 88, the Indonesian police anti-terror unit, believes the secret of the nation's success is the use of law enforcement, prosecution and the judicial process. He added: We do not use the military approach. Sidney Jones, a regional terrorism expert with the International Crisis Group think-tank, said openness was crucial in winning over a public that had become increasingly anti-western. It was from the public trials more than any other source that people appreciated they had a home-grown problem rather than a conspiracy from abroad, she said. Brig Tito also credits the deradicalisation strategy, which seeks to win over terrorists by paying for their children's education and helping them to find work after leaving prison. Some officials remain doubtful about this approach's long-term efficacy, saying it is premature to judge something that is still being developed. But Ms Jones credits Indonesia for tackling Islamist radicalism successfully in its prisons, institutions that in many countries are considered breeding grounds for militancy. The Indonesians were open to recommendations to reform and have made great strides in the last couple of years in bringing the prisons under control. Yet analysts stress the conditions in south-east Asia are very different from those elsewhere. It's a mistake to see everything as attributable to a better counter-terrorism strategy, Ms Jones said. It can't be [regarded as] a silver bullet and copied elsewhere. Robin Bush, an expert on Indonesian Islam at the Asia Foundation, a US-based body, said: A latent minority voice was given political momentum by the general hostility towards the west. When things calmed down internationally, they calmed down here. The absence of war in the region has been critical. So has the growing culture of democracy. It has become possible to advocate legally for Islamic law in a way that it wasn't when JI got its start, under the Suharto dictatorship, Ms Jones said But no-one in south-east Asia expects to eradicate Islamist terrorism. It's an ideology, said Ms Jones. There'll continue to be attacks but as more progress is made they should become fewer and further between. Additional reporting by Taufan Hidayat in Jakarta Copyright http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009. Print a single copy of this article for personal use. Contact us http://ftcorporate.ft.com/contact-us.html if you wish to print more to distribute to others. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/privacy Privacy policy | http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/terms Terms C Copyright http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2009. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Thu Dec 24, 2009 12:30pm EST - Smoking ups men's rheumatoid arthritis risk most
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BN2HL20091224?feedType=nlfeedName=us health600 http://www.reuters.com/ Reuters Smoking ups men's rheumatoid arthritis risk most Photo 12:30pm EST NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Smoking is a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a new analysis of 16 studies confirms. The effect is especially strong in men and heavy smokers, the researchers found. And men who tested positive for rheumatoid factor (RF), a self-attacking antibody found in about 80 percent of RA patients, were at even higher risk if they smoked. Research over the past two decades has linked smoking to RA, especially in men, Dr. S. Kumagai of Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Kobe, Japan and his colleagues write. But findings on smoking and RA in women have been inconsistent. The researchers conducted the first systematic analysis of research on RA risk and smoking, looking at 16 studies in all. Men who were current smokers were at nearly double the risk of RA, Kumagai and colleagues found, and the effect was roughly the same in ever- and past smokers. When the researchers looked at RF-positive RA, they found male smokers were at nearly four-fold risk of the disease, while risk was tripled in ever-smokers and about 2.5 times greater for past smokers. Smoking also increased RA risk in women, but to a lesser degree. Female current, ever- and ex-smokers had a 1.2 to 1.3 times greater likelihood of developing RA, whether or not they were RF-positive. The men who had logged at least 20 pack years -- meaning they had smoked at least 20 cigarettes a day for 20 years -- were 2.3 times more likely to develop RA, while for women risk was increased 1.75-fold. Smoking has been linked to RF production, the researchers note. The relationship among RF, RA, and smoking may be different for women, they add, due to hormonal factors. Any type of smoking constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of RA, Kumagai and colleagues write. Because RA is associated with a poor quality of life and life prognosis, we recommend cessation of smoking for current smokers, especially heavy smokers to prevent or reduce the risk of developing RA. SOURCE: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, January 2010. C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: 2009-12-23 01:11:58 (Mw 5.9) KEP. MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA -1.4 99.4 (a948)
-Original Message- From: USGS ENS [mailto:e...@usgs.gov] Sent: Wednesday, 23 December, 2009 08:35 To: ronodip...@cbn.net.id Subject: 2009-12-23 01:11:58 (Mw 5.9) KEP. MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA -1.4 99.4 (a948) == PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT == ***This event supersedes event PT09357000. Region:KEP. MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA Geographic coordinates: 1.419S, 99.447E Magnitude:5.9 Mw Depth:19 km Universal Time (UTC): 23 Dec 2009 01:11:58 Time near the Epicenter: 23 Dec 2009 08:11:58 Local standard time in your area: 23 Dec 2009 08:11:58 Location with respect to nearby cities: 113 km (70 miles) WSW (243 degrees) of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia 311 km (193 miles) SW (226 degrees) of Pekanbaru, Sumatra, Indonesia 354 km (220 miles) SSE (168 degrees) of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia 565 km (351 miles) SSW (206 degrees) of KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS event ID : US 2009qnag This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009qnag.php or http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ National Earthquake Information Center U.S. Geological Survey http://neic.usgs.gov/ DISCLAIMER: https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/help.html?page=help#disclaimer This email was sent to ronodip...@cbn.net.id You requested mail for events between -90.0/90.0 latitude and 180.0/-180.0 longitude for M5.5 at all times. Your account has aftershock exclusion turned on. This event fell into the 'US2009qnag' exclusion region, but was large enough to trigger notification. To change your parameters or unsubscribe, go to: https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.117/2582 - Release Date: 12/23/09 01:22:00 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.722 / Virus Database: 270.14.117/2582 - Release Date: 12/23/09 01:22:00
[wanita-muslimah] FW: UN RIGHTS EXPERT PLEASED DEFAMATION NO LONGER CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN MALDIVES
-Original Message- From: news5-ad...@lists.un.org [mailto:news5-ad...@lists.un.org] On Behalf Of UNNews Sent: Tuesday, 01 December, 2009 23:05 To: ne...@secint00.un.org Subject: UN RIGHTS EXPERT PLEASED DEFAMATION NO LONGER CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN MALDIVES UN RIGHTS EXPERT PLEASED DEFAMATION NO LONGER CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN MALDIVES New York, Dec 1 2009 11:05AM An independent United Nations human rights expert today welcomed the adoption of a bill by the Parliament of the Maldives to decriminalize defamation, and urged other States to take similar action. The bill adopted on 23 November abolishes articles 150 through 166 of the country's Penal Code, which deal with defamation of a person's name, integrity, or dignity, which carried a sentence of exile, house detention or fine. UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, welcomed the move, which he had called for following his visit to the Maldives in March. He also urged all States which have not already done so to repeal criminal defamation laws in favour of civil laws. In addition, any provisions that allow public officials to bring defamation suits with regard to their actions in public office should be totally eliminated, he stressed. Mr. La Rue also said he looked forward to the implementation of other recommendations he made with regard to the Maldives, including the adoption of an anti-monopoly legislation, particularly with regard to communications. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news To change your profile or unsubscribe go to: http://www.un.org/news/dh/latest/subscribe.shtml No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.89/2539 - Release Date: 12/02/09 02:32:00 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.716 / Virus Database: 270.14.105/2561 - Release Date: 12/13/09 02:39:00
[wanita-muslimah] The Straits Times, December 11, 2009 - Indonesia forms new anti-terror body: Coordinating agency that will report directly to President will put more emphasis on preventive measures
Indonesia forms new anti-terror body Coordinating agency that will report directly to President will put more emphasis on preventive measures By Salim Osman, Indonesia Correspondent http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20091210/ST_IMAGES_SOTERROR1 1.jpg A special army unit conducting an anti-terror drill in Banda Aceh recently. The new agency's board will have representatives from the military and government departments that have roles in the fight against terrorism. -- PHOTO: REUTERS JAKARTA: Indonesia will escalate its war against violent extremism by setting up a new agency to coordinate counter-terrorism work by a variety of agencies. Officials said the Badan Koordinasi Pemberantasan Terrorisme, or Counter-Terrorism Coordinating Agency, will go into action next month, fulfilling a campaign promise made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. 'The agency will be the supreme body for counter-terrorism that reports directly to the President,' said retired police inspector-general Ansyaad Mbai, head of the anti-terror desk at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. While rooting out terrorists and routing their cells remain its key tasks, the new agency will put greater emphasis on prevention. This will include rehabilitating detained terrorists so that they do not return to their old ways after leaving prison, and clamping down on religious radicalism. 'Besides law enforcement work, the new outfit will work closely with civil society groups in preventing terrorism,' said Mr Ansyaad. 'Counter-terrorism work must not be left to the police alone. 'Other agencies in the country such as the military and the religious department, as well as civil society groups, also have their roles in this national effort. We need to address the problem in a more comprehensive way.' The new agency will be an upgrade of the anti-terror desk which was set up just a month after the first Bali bombing that killed about 200 people in October 2002. That desk was set up by Dr Yudhoyono, then the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs in the Megawati administration. Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi welcomed plans for an anti-terror body that works with civil society groups, saying the defeat of terrorism would not be possible using only the traditional security approach. 'All steps must be taken, including the curbing of dangerous ideologies that help spread the message of terrorism to hearts and minds, as well as the approach of law enforcement to punish terrorists,' he said. But analyst Al Araf of rights group Imparsial said the new agency was unnecessary. 'The police have been able to deal with the terrorism problem successfully,' he said. 'There is no need for a new body.' Explaining the work of the new agency, Mr Ansyaad said representatives from the military and several government departments with roles in fighting terror will sit on the board of the new agency. It will be headed by the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, but day-to-day operations will be run by an executive director. Mr Ansyaad said the new agency would help overcome the limitations of his anti-terror desk, which has worked with the police for seven years. 'We have been concentrating too much on investigating terror cases but neglecting the preventive aspects of counter-terrorism,' he said. There is also a need to tap the potential of the military's intelligence network in detecting terrorists and their cells in remote parts of the country. Key moderate Muslim figures will be sought to help counter the spread of terrorist ideology, he said. It will be a contest of ideas. The new agency will also push for tougher laws against terrorism and stem the growth of radicalism. 'Our laws are softer than those in Singapore and Malaysia,' Mr Ansyaad said. 'That is why Indonesia has been called a hotbed for terrorists. 'We also allow radical clerics to have free rein to preach. Publishers are free to produce radical books, and there are no restrictions on hardline groups organising military training. 'We hope to come out with something to keep a tight rein on them in order to reduce radicalism in our society.' mailto:sa...@sph.com.sg sa...@sph.com.sg [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, November 29, 2009 - Indonesian Minister Draws Twitter Anger for Disaster Remarks
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-minister-draws-twitter-anger-for- disaster-remarks/344307 November 29, 2009 Indonesians are among some of the most avid users of online social media like Twitter and Facebook. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG) Indonesians are among some of the most avid users of online social media like Twitter and Facebook. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG) Indonesian Minister Draws Twitter Anger for Disaster Remarks A government minister drew sharp criticism from earthquake victims Saturday and alienated some of his Twitter followers by blaming natural disasters in Indonesia on immorality. Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring linked disasters to declining public morals when he addressed a prayer meeting in the city of Padang to mark Idhul Adha on Friday. Television broadcasts that destroy morals are plentiful in this country and therefore disasters will continue to occur, Antara quoted Sembiring as saying. He also referred to Indonesian-made hard-core sex DVDs available in street markets as an example of growing public decadence and called for tougher laws against pornography. Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that make the nation prone to volcanic and seismic activity. A giant quake off the country on Dec. 26, 2004, triggered the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people, half of them in Aceh. A magnitude 7.6 temblor on Sept. 30 killed more than 1,000 on western Sumatra. News of what Sembiring, a former leader of the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party, said provoked criticism Saturday from disaster victims. Kikie Marzuki, a Muslim Aceh resident who lost 10 relatives in the tsunami, said victims were not to blame. I prefer to believe that natural disasters occur because of the destructive force of nature that cannot be avoided by humans, he said. Sembiring's remarks also brought swift rebuke from some of his followers on the social interaction network Twitter. One tweeter, who identified himself as Ari Margiono, told Sembiring his words inferred that residents of Aceh and Padang were more decadent than other Indonesians. Disasters provide a momentum for repentance, he told the Jakarta Globe earlier. Not everyone disagreed with him, and his speech in Padang won the backing of the Indonesian Ullema Council. Based on the religious view, a disaster could be seen as a punishment for people's sins, and could also as a reminder to us of our mistakes, prominent council member Ma'ruf Amin said. AP [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] AHMEDABADMIRROR.com, Sunday, November 29, 2009 - A Radical Intellectual: Writer Sadanand Dhume talks to Vishwas Kulkarni about the radicalization process in Indonesia and a dancer wh
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=articlesectname=Columnists - Sunday Readsectid=26contentid=2009112920091129032058161c2592e1a Columnists - Sunday Read A Radical Intellectual Writer Sadanand Dhume talks to Vishwas Kulkarni about the radicalization process in Indonesia and a dancer who has made good use of her very large hips Posted On Sunday, November 29, 2009 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/images/spacer.gifhttp://www.ahmedabadmirror.c om/images/stars/greystar.gifhttp://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/images/stars/grey star.gifhttp://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/images/stars/greystar.gifhttp://www.a hmedabadmirror.com/images/stars/greystar.gifhttp://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/i mages/stars/greystar.gif http://cms.mumbaimirror.com/portalfiles/28/26/200911/Image/2009-11-29/12-1.j pg The term Asian affairs expert often gives you the illusion of someone sitting in a think tank headquarter in North Carolina, pondering on how the geo-politics of the French Polynesia is going to blow up in Americas face sometime in 2012. Yet Sadanand Dhume, author of My Friend the Fanatic: Travels with a Radical Islamist lends the term a dynamic, funky edge. The man, who was once India bureau chief for the legendary (and now defunct) Far Eastern Economic Review, has written a riveting travel narrative exploring radical Islam in Indonesia. Starting with the 2002 Bali bombing at a discotheque and culminating in Ambon, a place ravaged by sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims, his travel companion through all this was a Javanese who had the honour of editing the nations leading fundamentalist magazine. Here are excerpts from an interview: What is the radicalization crisis in Indonesia? Ive been back three times in the last two years. Unfortunately, many of the darker directions Indonesia was predicted to have taken, as presaged by my book, have sadly turned out to be accurate. Yet it is important to divide the argument with Indonesia into two strains. One is the war against terrorism which is what the West is mainly interested in (such as Bali Bombings, etc). The second strain is the threat to pluralism. Not many terrorist attacks have occurred in Indonesia post the Bali bombings (thus a success from a Western perspective), yet it has become a place where minorities, independent women, heterodox Muslims, secularists, atheists are effectively marginalized. My focus is on the latter strain. What drew you to the radicalization threat pervading Indonesia? I have always been interested in cultural change, how what you believe in makes you behave in a certain manner. Thats where you find the virulent strain of Islamism growing across the country. For centuries there seemed to be no threat, but in this decade there has been a deliberate push thanks to Saudi and Kuwaiti funded initiatives for madrassas, mosques, and other institutions where radicalization is an active policy. In the centre of the nation is a Saudi Arabian-funded university called LIPIA in Jakarta, which is an apt example of this malaise. Is there a dialogue between secular and fundamental groups? The real problem is that pluralists and secularists dont fully understand what it means to be a fervent believer. It is a failure of imagination on their part (the secularists). One has to imagine what goes on in the mind of a fervent believer to know the dangers. But isnt the globalization process only stoking fundamentalism in the Islamic world? Secularism in such times then becomes merely an elitist tokenism to be thrown around to sound cool. That is true. The elite, all over the world, experience a different relationship to the tug of war between secularists and fundamentalism. Jakartas literati, a world to which I had access to for some time, leads an insulated, hedonistic lifestyle that is not very different from Las Vegas or New York. The danger is when you dont realize how your insulated lifestyle is eventually going to catch up with you, going to blow up in your face. As for the effect globalization has on stoking fundamentalism, it works like this: With an unprecedented communication revolution occurring in human history via the Internet and the media in general, our noses are pressed against the glass of the West more intimately than ever before. This has a certain reaction in cultures: it makes people reach back, to their pasts or traditions, to seek something more authentic. Sometimes it is an innocuous phenomenon, a harmless renaissance. But sometimes Muslim cultures, in the wake of the globalization process, can take on an Islamist cast, and I dont mean an Islamic cast. Tell us a little about Ambon, embroiled in civil war. The worst of the fighting was over when I got there. But Ambon represented the South East Asian version of Beirut at its worst. A well-integrated society has split into Christians and Muslims hating one another. So segregated was the scenario that there was a Christian bus
[wanita-muslimah] TIMESONLINE, November 27, 2009 - Iran seizes Nobel win ner Shirin Ebadi's medal
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6934015.ece Times Online Logo 222 x 25 · From The Times November 27, 2009 Iran seizes Nobel winner Shirin Ebadis medal Martin Fletcher Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her campaign for democracy and human rights (Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP) Shirin Ebadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her campaign for democracy and human rights Iran has confiscated the Nobel peace medal and diploma of Shirin Ebadi, the human rights lawyer who is one of the hardline regimes most outspoken critics. Her bank account has also been frozen on the pretext that she owes almost £250,000 in tax. The seizure of the award, unprecedented in its 108-year history, caused outrage in Oslo, where the Nobel Peace Committee is based. The Norwegian Government summoned the Iranian envoy to protest, and the committee said that it would make a formal complaint. Such an act leaves us feeling shock and disbelief, said Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Geir Lundestad, secretary of the committee, said that Irans action was unacceptable. A laureate has never been treated like that. Even political dissidents such as [Andrei] Sakharov and [Lech] Walesa were better treated in their countries, he added, referring to the Russian dissident and the Polish trade union leader, both of whom won the prize while living in the Soviet bloc. In 2003 Dr Ebadi became the first Iranian and first Muslim woman to http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2003/ win the peace prize, which was awarded for her campaign for democracy and human rights. She was abroad during President Ahmadinejads disputed re-election in June and has spent the past five months travelling the world to draw attention to the regimes alleged electoral fraud and suppression of the opposition. I am effectively in exile, she said recently. She revealed the loss of her Nobel medal in an interview on Radio Farda, a US-backed Persian language station. She said that the regime had frozen her bank accounts and pension, as well as those of her husband, who is still in Tehran. She continued: Even my Nobel and Légion dhonneur medals, my Freedom of Speech ring and other prizes, which were in my husbands safe, have been confiscated. Norwegian officials said that the medal had been taken from a bank deposit box. Dr Ebadi, 62, told another interviewer: They say I owe them $410,000 in back taxes because of the Nobel. Its a complete lie, given that the Iranian fiscal law says that prizes are excluded. The prize money was $1.4 million. She said that she was trying to recover her property through legal means, but so far, no judge has dared to review our complaint. Dr Ebadis lawyer in Tehran, Nasrin Sotoudeh, said that the medal was seized on the order of a judge at the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The confiscation of Dr Ebadis prizes is only part of the regimes campaign to silence her. It has closed her Centre for the Defence of Human Rights in Tehran and locked up three of her colleagues. She has been denounced in the state-controlled media and charged in absentia with conspiring against the State. Her husband was badly beaten this autumn and her apartment is said to have been seized. In http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6846763.ece an interview with The Times in September Dr Ebadi said that the Intelligence Ministry had repeatedly interrogated her husband and brother, ordered them to shut her up and told them that it could track her down anywhere in the world. In effect they have threatened me with death, she said. She insisted that she would continue to denounce the regimes brutality the shooting of innocent protesters, imprisonment, beating and torture of opponents and the use of show trials and forced confessions. Naturally the Iranian Government doesnt want the world to know whats happening in Iran, so its my duty to inform as many people as possible. Dr Ebadi has been lobbying world leaders, urging them not to ignore Irans human rights abuses in their desire to engage the regime over its nuclear programme. When The Times asked where she was based, she replied: Airports around the world. She said that she planned to return to Iran soon despite the danger of being arrested at the airport. If not imprisoned, she would fight for justice for the families of those killed after the election. She said that those who had contacted her included the mother of Neda Soltan, the student who was shot dead during a demonstration and became a symbol of the opposition. In a statement yesterday the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said that it had protested not just about the confiscation of Dr Ebadis Nobel medal, but also about the prolonged harassment of her and her husband. The persecution of Dr Ebadi and her family show that freedom of expression is under great pressure in Iran, Mr Støre said. We
[wanita-muslimah] Jawa Pos, Senin, 23 November 2009 - Kangen Jusuf ''Solusi'' Kalla
http://www.jawapos.co.id/halaman/index.php?act=detailnid=100514 Kangen Jusuf ''Solusi'' Kalla Catatan: Ibnu Yunianto 10 NOVEMBER lalu, Menteri BUMN Mustafa Abubakar meminta maaf kepada rakyat karena PLN gagal menyediakan pasokan listrik. Pemerintah berjanji, pasokan listrik di Jakarta akan pulih minggu ketiga Desember. Menanggapi laporan para menterinya, Wakil Presiden Boediono meminta departemen dan kementerian mempersiapkan pasokan listrik dalam jangka panjang. Pemadaman listrik bergilir lebih parah pernah terjadi Juli 2008. Tidak hanya menimpa kawasan permukiman di Jakarta, tapi juga kawasan industri di sekitar Jakarta. Puluhan pengusaha Jepang langsung memprotes Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla. Mereka mengancam akan memindahkan pabriknya ke Tiongkok bila pemerintah gagal menjamin stabilitas pasokan listrik. Menanggapi ancaman pengusaha Jepang, Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla bergeming. Dia meminta pengusaha bertahan dengan mengatakan bahwa Tiongkok pun pernah mengalami kekurangan pasokan listrik sebelum proyek-proyek pembangkitnya selesai dibangun. Dia berjanji pemadaman bergilir akan berakhir dalam sepekan. Setelah berhasil meyakinkan pengusaha Jepang, Kalla segera mengeluarkan maklumat. Kantor pemerintah diperintahkan tutup sebelum pukul 17.00. Lampu-lampu kantor dan reklame juga wajib dipadamkan, serta pendingin ruangan wajib disetel pada suhu 25 derajat Celsius. Pengusaha juga diimbau bergiliran bekerja dengan memaksimalkan pekerjaan pada Sabtu-Minggu, ketika beban puncak kebutuhan listrik berkurang. Hasilnya, pemadaman bergilir langsung berhenti dua hari kemudian. Sejumlah orang dekatnya mengatakan, solusi adalah nama tengah Kalla. Sejumlah menteri pun mengakui ide-ide orisinal dan out of the box Kalla yang muncul begitu cepat dalam merespons persoalan pelik. Ketika orang lain berpikir untuk swasembada harus dilakukan dengan menambah luasan lahan, Kalla justru memerintahkan distribusi bibit unggul secara gratis. Ketika Departemen Pertanian menyodorkan proposal program peningkatan teknologi pascapanen, Kalla justru memerintahkan agar membagikan terpal plastik sebagai alas pengolahan pascapanen di sawah. ''Kalau setiap hektare ada satu kilogram gabah yang hilang ketika dipanen, ada 2 juta ton yang hilang setiap musim panen. Itu artinya tidak perlu impor beras,'' katanya. Ketika Bank Century kolaps, Gubernur BI Boediono dan Menkeu Sri Mulyani Indrawati segera meminta pemerintah memberikan penjaminan penuh (blanket guarantee) dana nasabah Bank Century. Usul itu ditolak Kalla. Wapres langsung menelepon Kapolri, memerintahkan agar pemilik Century Robert Tantular ditahan. Tiga jam kemudian, Kapolri melapor bahwa Robert sudah ditahan serta dana Rp 12 triliun yang dilarikan ke luar negeri dibekukan dan dalam proses repratriasi ke Indonesia. ''Untung saja waktu itu punya Wapres Jusuf Kalla yang tegas menolak pengucuran bailout,'' tegas anggota FPDIP DPR Gayus Lumbuun di gedung DPR kemarin (12/11). Tak heran, ketika Polri dan KPK berseteru soal kasus Bibit Samad Riyanto dan Chandra M. Hamzah, banyak orang yang kangen dengan solusi ala Jusuf Kalla. Kasus itu diyakini tak akan berlarut-larut bila Kalla masih ada di dalam pemerintah. Meski tak banyak terdengar, kiprah Kalla dalam mendamaikan konflik terbuka antarlembaga tinggi negara sudah banyak teruji. Konflik terbuka antara Mahkamah Agung dan Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan tentang audit biaya perkara yang terancam berujung ke proses pidana -Ketua BPK Anwar Nasution sudah melaporkan Ketua MA (ketika itu) Bagir Manan ke Mabes Polri- dapat diselesaikan dengan mediasi Kalla. Seorang staf Kalla menuturkan, ketika kasus tersebut mulai bergulir ke penyelesaian melalui jalur pengadilan, Kalla segera mengontak Anwar Nasution untuk menawarkan penyelesaian di luar jalur pengadilan. Pada saat yang sama, Kalla pun segera mengontak Bagir Manan. Upaya perdamaian dapat mulus berjalan karena Kalla menggunakan pendekatan melalui jalur HMI. Baik Anwar, Bagir, maupun Kalla ternyata sama-sama pernah bergiat di HMI. Tak heran bila kedua tokoh yang sama-sama keras itu melunak. Setelah kedua pihak setuju menempuh jalur non pengadilan, proses perdamaian formal selanjutnya diambil alih Presiden SBY dengan mengundang kedua tokoh bertemu di Istana Merdeka. Setelah pertemuan, laporan Anwar ke Mabes Polri dicabut, MA melunak soal audit biaya perkara, dan Presiden SBY mendapat pujian karena dianggap mampu menyelesaikan konflik itu ''secara adat''. Kalla tak hanya sekali memberikan solusi soal hukum. Beberapa waktu lalu, Kalla mendapat telepon dari Kepala BKPM Muhammad Luthfi. Dia mengeluhkan ada dua investor asal Singapura yang ditahan di Kepulauan Riau karena tertangkap tangan berjudi kecil-kecilan. Tiga bulan lamanya kasus itu mengendap di meja polisi dan kejaksaan, sementara proyek dan ratusan pegawainya terbengkalai. Sambil menahan murka, malam itu juga Kalla menelepon Kapolda dan Kajati Kepulauan Riau. Dia meminta agar kasus tersebut diprioritaskan untuk
[wanita-muslimah] FW: Pesawat pribadi dan para pejabat Indonesia
Feed: Membaca Kompas Posted on: Thursday, 19 November, 2009 15:18 Author: Louisa Tuhatu Subject: Pesawat pribadi dan para pejabat Indonesia http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bgZ3dVEeNI0/SwT8DSaA86I/AGs/b729IbdONM0/s1600/180px-Bombardier.global.express.p4-aaa.arp.jpg http://cetak.kompas.com/read/xml/2009/11/18/03072925/wapres.tiba.di.italia Berita kepergian wapres Boediono ke Roma untuk menghadiri pertemuan FAO tanggal 17 November 2009 tampak tenggelam di tengah hiruk-pikuk berita pertikaian cicak vs buaya. Apalagi figur Boediono memang low profile dan nyaris tak terdengar suaranya. Kompas ternyata masih cermat dan kritis dengan membuat sub heading pesawat khusus dalam beritanya walaupun gagal mengelaborasi asal-usul pesawat tersebut dan biaya yang dikeluarkan pemerintah (kalau memang menggunakan uang negara) untuk membayar biaya pesawat khusus dibanding dengan kalau rombongan 11 orang tersebut menggunakan pesawat komersial. Dari Wikipedia saya memperoleh data mengenai pesawat tersebut yang diklasifikasikan sebagai pesawat jet korporasi dan eksekutif VIP. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Global_Express) Role Business http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_jet jet National origin Canada http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_Aerospace First flight October http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_13 13, 1996 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996 Introduced 1993 Status In Service Number built 260+ (including Global 5000s) Unit cost US $45 million (Global 5000 - US $37.67 million Ini bukan kali pertama pejabat Indonesia mempertontonkan kemiskinan negara ini dengan sangat kasar. Miris rasanya hati ini melihat para pejabat dari Singapore, termasuk perdana menterinya, bepergian menggunakan pesawat komersial padahal negaranya jauuuhhh lebih makmur daripada Indonesia. Selama ini sosok Boediono selalu diperkenalkan sebagai seorang yang sederhana. Kemana perginya kesederhanaan itu? Apakah memang benar kata-kata orang bijak bahwa kekuasaan itu sangat menggoda dan dapat mengkorup jiwa yang paling mulia sekalipun. Kalau argumentasinya adalah bahwa penggunaan pesawat tersebut tidak mengganggu keuangan negara maka patutlah dipertanyakan motivasi sang manusia baik hati yang bersedia membuang uang sedemikian besar. Kalau argumentasinya adalah mobilitas yang lebih terkendali (dapat berangkat dan pulang semaunya) maka patut pula dipertanyakan situasi kegentingan yang memerlukan kehadiran Boediono serta perencanaan pelaksana pemerintahan. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2713596829654768091-5891646108195928713?l=membaca-kompas.blogspot.com View http://membaca-kompas.blogspot.com/2009/11/pesawat-pribadi-dan-para-pejabat.html article... No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2514 - Release Date: 11/20/09 02:42:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: INDONESIA: Tough laws needed to curb people-smuggling
-Original Message- From: IRIN [mailto:no-re...@irinnews.org] Sent: Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 21:03 To: dharmawan ronodipuro Subject: INDONESIA: Tough laws needed to curb people-smuggling INDONESIA: Tough laws needed to curb people-smuggling JAKARTA, 18 November 2009 (IRIN) - Indonesia has become a key transit point for illegal migrants in the region, but efforts to curb people-smuggling are being hampered by a dearth of stringent laws to punish offenders, officials say. Eko Daniyanto, head of the people-smuggling unit for the Indonesian national police, said international people-smuggling syndicates had operated in Indonesia since 2005. But the absence of laws criminalising people-smuggling meant suspects could only be charged under a 1992 immigration law, and those found guilty faced a maximum sentence of four years, he said. A number of alleged people-smugglers have been arrested since last year, including Iraqis, Afghans and Indonesians, Daniyanto said. He did not give figures. Tracking the journeys Every year, hundreds of migrants from conflict-ridden countries such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka enter Indonesia illegally, capitalizing on its poorly patrolled and porous borders, said the spokesman for Indonesia's Directorate-General of Immigration, Maroloan Barimbing. Many illegal migrants travel to Indonesia through Malaysia by boat, said Anggaria Lopis, spokesman for the police in Indonesia's Riau Islands province, which has become a key entry point. People-smugglers arrange asylum-seekers' accommodation in Malaysia and travel to Indonesia. They are paid as much as US$3,000 to take the migrants by boat, he said. From Indonesia, they set out for Australia [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=87080], often in unseaworthy boats. Despite cooperation between Indonesian and Malaysian police, people-smuggling rings were hard to break, he said. Damien Kingsbury, associate professor with the School of International and Political Studies at Australia's Deakin University, said: Indonesia has done little to stop people-smuggling, but it is not a major issue for Indonesia - few people want to end up there. Even so, about 1,600 asylum-seekers have arrived in Indonesia this year and applied for refugee status with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Barimbing said. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and good weather, which is conducive to small boats crossing the oceans, are partly behind this year's influx of asylum-seekers, Kingsbury said. Political tensions In recent weeks, tensions have arisen between Australia and Indonesia over how to tackle the flow of migrants and asylum-seekers. In the latest incident, 78 Sri Lankans refused to disembark from an Australian customs vessel docked off Indonesia's Bintan Island, and demanded they be taken to Australia. Australia wanted the refugee claims of the Sri Lankans, who were rescued in international waters on 18 October, to be processed in an Australian-funded immigration detention centre on Bintan Island. Indonesia agreed to take them for processing on humanitarian grounds - but ruled out a similar move in the future. Australia promised all the migrants that genuine refugees among them would be speedily resettled abroad. Legal solution Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta on 20 October, with technical cooperation to fight people-smuggling on the agenda. Australia has in the past jailed several Indonesians for people-smuggling, and Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Teuku Faizasyah, acknowledged there was a need for similar laws in Indonesia to make people-smuggling a criminal offence. We need laws that mete out the heaviest punishment possible to people-smugglers. The existing law doesn't provide for tough sanctions, Faizasyah told IRIN. But Faizasyah said some of those jailed were poor fishermen who were enticed by the prospect of making more money by allowing their boats to be used to carry asylum-seekers. Having said that, as willing partners they deserve to be punished, he said. atp/ey/mw [END] Attention donors! Are you mopping up end-year budgets? Chip in for IRIN - you know it makes sense: http://www.irinnews.org/donors.aspx C IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.irinnews.org [This item comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. Reposting or reproduction, with attribution, for non-commercial purposes is permitted. Terms and conditions: http://www.irinnews.org/copyright.aspx IRIN partners: Canada, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, UNEP and the IHC. More information: http://www.irinnews.org/donors.aspx This mail is from a non-reply e-mail address. Contact IRIN
[wanita-muslimah] FW: 2009-11-19 01:14:37 (Mb 5.5) HALMAHERA, INDONESIA 3.0 128.3 (a948)
-Original Message- From: USGS ENS [mailto:e...@usgs.gov] Sent: Thursday, 19 November, 2009 08:34 To: ronodip...@cbn.net.id Subject: 2009-11-19 01:14:37 (Mb 5.5) HALMAHERA, INDONESIA 3.0 128.3 (a948) == PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE REPORT == ***This event supersedes event PT09323000. Region:HALMAHERA, INDONESIA Geographic coordinates: 2.982N, 128.288E Magnitude:5.5 Mb Depth:14 km Universal Time (UTC): 19 Nov 2009 01:14:37 Time near the Epicenter: 19 Nov 2009 10:14:37 Local standard time in your area: 19 Nov 2009 08:14:37 Location with respect to nearby cities: 263 km (163 miles) NNE (23 degrees) of Ternate, Moluccas, Indonesia 417 km (259 miles) ENE (66 degrees) of Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia 490 km (304 miles) SE (135 degrees) of General Santos, Mindanao, Philippines 844 km (524 miles) SW (235 degrees) of KOROR, Palau ADDITIONAL EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS event ID : US 2009peac This event has been reviewed by a seismologist at NEIC For subsequent updates, maps, and technical information, see: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009peac.php or http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ National Earthquake Information Center U.S. Geological Survey http://neic.usgs.gov/ DISCLAIMER: https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/help.html?page=help#disclaimer This email was sent to ronodip...@cbn.net.id You requested mail for events between -90.0/90.0 latitude and 180.0/-180.0 longitude for M5.5 at all times. Your account has aftershock exclusion turned on. This event fell into the 'US2009peac' exclusion region, but was large enough to trigger notification. To change your parameters or unsubscribe, go to: https://sslearthquake.usgs.gov/ens/ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.707 / Virus Database: 270.14.73/2512 - Release Date: 11/19/09 02:41:00 No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.74/2515 - Release Date: 11/20/09 15:02:00
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:14am EST - Indonesia's anti-terrorism unit warns of new cells
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5AI1IV20091119 http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Indonesia's anti-terrorism unit warns of new cells Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:14am EST By Olivia Rondonuwu JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia still faces a key risk of new militant attacks as Islamic radicals have set up new cells in recent years and some bomb experts remain at large, the head of the country's anti-terrorism unit said on Thursday. Police have killed or captured a string of suspected militants, including Southeast Asia's most-wanted fugitive, Noordin Mohammad Top, since suicide bombings on two luxury hotels in Jakarta in July shattered a four-year lull in attacks. But Saud Usman Nasution, head of the country's U.S. trained anti-terrorism unit, Detachment 88, said new attacks could occur at any time in the world's most populous Muslim nation. Whenever they have a chance, they will launch them, Nasution, who rarely talks to the media, told reporters. Many terrorists responsible for bombings in Indonesia are still at large. Many of them are still preparing themselves, it seems, and many new cells have been formed, he said. Those on the run, he said, included expert bomb makers. He refused to elaborate because he said the information could be sensitive for police operations in the field. Nasution said that since 2000 police had detained 455 militants, of which 352 had been convicted. More than 200 had been released from jail, while 12 militants were still in police detention facing a legal process, he added. The killing of some key militants including Top, who claimed to head al Qaeda in Southeast Asia, could also encourage other militants to return to the country, he said. Such figures, he said, included Umar Patek and Dulmatin, both accused of having a role in the 2002 Bali bombings and believed to be on the run in the Philippines. Nasution said police were still investigating a possible link between militant groups in Indonesia and al Qaeda after the arrest in August of a Saudi man and the owner of an Indonesian radical website and magazine. Al Qaeda helped fund the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2003 J.W. Marriott hotel bombings in Jakarta, which killed scores of Indonesians and Westerners, Nasution said. A string of bombings in Indonesia since 2000 has been blamed on Jemaah Islamiah, a regional militant network, although violent splinter groups such as the one led by Top are now believed to be the key threats for new attacks. (Editing by Ed http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=ed.davies; Davies) C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Tue Nov 3, 2009 3:44pm EST - Low cholesterol may be sign of undiagnosed cancer
http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Print javascript:window.print(); | Close this window javascript:%20window.close(); Low cholesterol may be sign of undiagnosed cancer Tue Nov 3, 2009 3:44pm EST By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters Life!) - Low total cholesterol may be a sign of cancer rather than a cause, as some researchers have suggested, and men who have low cholesterol actually have a lower risk of developing high-risk prostate cancer, two teams reported on Tuesday. Both studies, reported in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers Prevention, shed new light on the role of cholesterol and cancer. For years, researchers had noticed that people who have lower total cholesterol -- a combination of both low-density lipoprotein or LDL, the bad kind, and high-density lipoprotein or HDL, the good kind -- appeared more likely to have certain types of cancers than other people. That was worrisome because having low cholesterol, and particularly low levels of bad LDL cholesterol, has been shown to protect against heart attacks and strokes. Our study affirms that lower total cholesterol may be caused by undiagnosed cancer, Dr. Demetrius Albanes, a senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, said in a statement. In terms of a public health message, we found that higher levels of 'good' cholesterol seem to be protective for all cancers, he said. The 18-year study of nearly 30,000 Finnish male smokers is the largest and longest of its kind. During that period, 7,545 men developed cancer. The men with lower total cholesterol levels -- below 230 milligrams/deciliter -- had an 18 percent higher risk of cancer overall -- just as in earlier studies. But, when they excluded cancers that occurred in the first nine years of the study, this risk disappears. This finding supports the idea that the lower serum total cholesterol level we detected as a possible cancer risk factor may actually have been the result of undiagnosed cancers, Albanes told reporters in a telephone briefing. They also found men who had higher levels of HDL or good cholesterol (above 40 milligrams/deciliter) had a 14 percent lower risk of cancer even after excluding nine years of early cases. MORE STUDIES NEEDED Albanes said the notion that high levels of HDL may protect against cancer is new and needs to be confirmed in other studies, particularly among women. The results should help dispel any lingering concerns anyone might have that having low cholesterol could cause cancer, Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society told reporters. A companion study of more than 5,000 U.S. men by Elizabeth Platz of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and colleagues found a link between low cholesterol and a lower risk of high-grade prostate cancer among 5,586 men over 55. They found that if men had total cholesterol of less than 200 milligrams/deciliter, they had a nearly 60 percent lower risk of developing high grade prostate cancer, the riskiest kind. It is not clear whether taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs might help men with prostate cancer. That would need to be studied, Platz said. (Editing by Maggie http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=maggie.fox; Fox and Mohammad http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=mohammad.zargha m Zargham) C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Asia Times Online, Saturday, October 31, 2009 - Deep Inside Indonesia's Kill Zone
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KJ31Ae01.html Asia Times Online, Saturday, October 31, 2009 An ATOL Investigation Deep Inside Indonesia's Kill Zone By John McBeth JAKARTA - Florida's Dade County police special weapons and tactics (SWAT) squad conducts as many as five forced entries a day. In all of those, they rarely fire a shot - and almost never have to deal with explosives. Indonesia's Detachment 88 counter-terrorism crisis response teams have staged two sieges in the past two months, laid down a heavy barrage of gunfire and killed five leading militants. But counter-terrorism experts say it is wrong to make comparisons: SWAT is doing police work; Detachment 88, still under-trained and ill-equipped, is dealing with suicidal jihadis often armed with assault rifles and powerful shrapnel bombs. These are not criminals in the true sense of the word, said one US Special Forces combat veteran, who has trained Detachment 88. These are soldiers of God. If they are cornered, they have the will and the means to kill as many as they can before being killed themselves. That hasn't stopped the unit from coming under mounting criticism for failing to take alive some key individuals believed to possess information that may have allowed investigators to roll up other terrorist networks. Malaysian mastermind, Noordin Mohammad Top, and three other militants were killed in a Detachment 88 operation on the outskirts of Solo, Central Java, on September 17, exactly two months after the twin bombings of Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels. Three weeks later, the unit closed in on a house in the Jakarta suburb of Ciputat and killed Syaifudin Zuhu Djaelani and his brother, Mohammad Syahrir, who were accused of hiring the two suicide bombers used in the September 17 attacks. Ibohim, their brother-in-law and the inside man for the bombings, had been originally misidentified as Noordin when he was shot dead in Temanggung, Central Java, on August 8. There is a suspicion that police have been simply killing the suspects to dispense with the headaches of long and perhaps theatrical trials. But Detachment 88's reluctance to engage the militants at close quarters probably stems from the fact that it has insufficient teargas and stun grenades and, more importantly, the advanced training to use them effectively. The unit's spokesman declined to comment, noting that the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Security and Legal Affairs was currently considering the establishment of a new counter-terrorism agency which the military is keen to head. Western officials, however, say involving the army would be a mistake. Under the ministry's current standard operating procedures, the elite Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) can only be called on in extreme cases, such as the armed takeover of an embassy or a plane hijack. Recent public criticism of Detachment 88's so-called license to kill has literally given the military the ammunition to push harder for a more prominent role in the operational aspects of the counter-terrorism campaign. Senior defense officials say only that Kopassus wants to play a larger role in anticipating terrorist actions; some of its troops have recently reinforced the presidential security force in preparation for US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia next May or June. Obama was to have paid a fleeting visit to Jakarta on November 12, en route to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore. US officials say the postponement was related not to security concerns but to the president's wish to stay longer in Indonesia, where he spent part of his childhood. Apart from bringing in highly trained Kopassus personnel, the battalion-sized presidential bodyguard unit has also been exercising with US Secret Service agents, using new weaponry and electronic devices. It is not clear why the Detachment 88 crisis response teams have not been given more advanced or even sustained refresher training and better equipment to tackle a job that demands the sort of skills and teamwork mostly found in the military. As it was, while the two most recent standoffs lasted for hours, a single shot in one instance and a small bomb blast in the other triggered a torrent of fire from Detachment 88 police officers surrounding the houses where the suspects were holed up. To me, if a shot was fired or a small bomb was exploded, then that is grounds to go in with the intention of shooting to kill and perhaps taking casualties as well, said the American trainer. The question is: are you committing your force to arrest, which is a true police mindset that I don't buy into in many of these cases, or are you there to kill them and, if a few live, well then make an arrest. Noordin probably would never have surrendered, given the almost certainty of a death sentence if he were captured alive. But investigators were anxious to capture Budi Bagus
[wanita-muslimah] The Straits Times, 30 October 2009 - No US visa for 2 Indonesian defence officials: Army's alleged past misdeeds hamper Jakarta's bid for full military ties with Washington
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/The+Print+Edition/The+Print+Edition.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Prime%2BNews.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Singapore.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Asia/Asia.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/World/World.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Money/Money.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Review/Review.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Insight/Insight.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Sports/Sports.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/ST+Forum.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/Life%2521/Life%2521.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/nav_div_b.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/The+Print+Edition/The+Print+Edition_All_2009103 0.html http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif Home http://www.straitstimes.com/ Asia http://www.straitstimes.com/Asia/Asia.html South-east Asia http://www.straitstimes.com/Asia/Asia.html Story No US visa for 2 Indonesian defence officials Army's alleged past misdeeds hamper Jakarta's bid for full military ties with Washington By John McBeth, Senior Writer http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20091029/ST_IMAGES_B3FC.jpg http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/common/c.gif Major-Gen Wibowo's clean record seems to have cut no ice with the United States. JAKARTA: Weeks into his second term, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been given another embarrassing reminder that the alleged past misdeeds of the army he once served remain a major stumbling block in Indonesia's efforts to restore full military ties with the United States. The Straits Times has learnt that Defence Ministry secretary-general Syafrie Syamsuddin and Indonesian Special Forces (Kopassus) commander Pramono Edhie Wibowo have had their US visa applications either turned down or put on hold. Lieutenant-General Syafrie was unable to accompany Dr Yudhoyono's delegation to the Group of 20 summit in Pittsburgh last month, and Major-General Wibowo has apparently been prevented from giving a closed-door presentation to the Pentagon during a planned visit to Washington this week. A former special forces intelligence officer, Lt-Gen Syafrie is widely tipped to become Cabinet Secretary in place of Mr Sudhi Silalahi, who was promoted to State Secretary in the new ministerial line-up Dr Yudhoyono announced last week. But even more embarrassing for the President is that Maj-Gen Wibowo, another career special forces officer, is his brother-in-law - and apparently on track to become armed forces commander near the end of the President's five-year term. It was hoped that Maj-Gen Wibowo's unblemished record would allow him to make the case with defence and congressional leaders that Kopassus has reformed and that it should be allowed to resume exercises with the US Special Forces. Although officials insist that the visa ban is not final, Lt-Gen Syafrie, 56, is in a different category because of allegations surrounding the November 1991 churchyard massacre in Dili and the bloody May 1998 riots that preceded president Suharto's fall from power. US Embassy spokesman Paul Belmont declined to comment on the issue, saying it was against US law to discuss individual visa cases. Lt-Gen Syafrie is a 1974 military academy classmate of vice-presidential candidate and former Suharto son-in-law Prabowo Subianto, who is banned from the US for his role in the kidnapping and torture of pro-democracy activists in 1997-1998. Mr Prabowo, a retired general, was cashiered in late 1998 after taking responsibility for the kidnappings before a closed-door military honour council. It was a move that hardly satisfied human rights groups, but allowed then armed forces chief General Wiranto to rid himself of a rival. Although Lt-Gen Syafrie has never been charged with a crime, that has little bearing on an ongoing US State Department investigation to determine whether the former Jakarta regional commander should be allowed a visa. US officials insist there is no actual blacklist carrying the names of Indonesian officers accused of human rights abuses, the vast majority of whom have never seen the inside of an interrogation room - let alone a courtroom. The
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Thu, 10/29/2009 1:13 PM - Join the ride of opposition pluralist parties
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/29/join-ride-opposition-pluralist -parties.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Join the ride of opposition pluralist parties Ahmad Junaidi , Jakarta | Thu, 10/29/2009 1:13 PM | Opinion A friend sent a text message a few minutes after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced his Cabinet lineup, saying Yudhoyono's new non-economic ministers were people with moralistic and anti-pluralist track records. The friend, an activist and public lawyer, explicitly said the appointment of Tifatul Sembiring, president of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), as communication and information minister would harm freedom of press and of expression, a pillar of democracy. Suryadharma Ali, the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), who was made the religious affairs minister, was once known for suggesting the banning of the Islamic sect Ahmadiyah. Although famous for his anticorruption stance, the new Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi, who was also West Sumatra governor, did nothing when several regencies and municipalities in his province applied sharia-inspired bylaws. Padang was among the first municipalities to set up such a sharia-inspired bylaw. The bylaw was then copy-pasted by many regencies and municipalities across the country. The minister will think similarly to his predecessor, Mardiyanto, that nothing is wrong with the bylaws. He, like many other positivistic supporters, would deem the current decentralization, with regions authorized to issue discriminatory bylaws, is a consequence of democracy, a trend hinted at by political observer Henk Schulte Nordholt in his article on decentralization in the post-Soeharto era in the book Politicizing Democracy: The Local Politics of Democratization. In short, the activist doubted the President's second-term goals, which were revealed in his inauguration speech before the People's Consultative Assembly: that prosperity, democracy and justice could be achieved. The creeping Islamization in Yudhoyono's first term would continue to walk or even to run faster in his second term. If it's a soccer game, the President's dream team would be Chelsea (blue is the favorite color of Yudhoyono and his Democratic Party), full of star players (all Islamist party chairmen became ministers) ready to defeat underdog teams and, even, threaten to kick the spectators in the stadium. But let's look at the possible positive outcome: Tifatul would prohibit TV stations from airing stupid sinetron. The stations would commit suicide if they had to replace the soap operas with unpopular programs spreading religious messages or promoting polygamy, such as the flick Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), in an effort to win the heart and mind of the minister. The minister would firmly reject Japanese AV starlet Maria Miyabi Ozawa. He was also rumored to want to ban Facebook, but has denied this. Earlier, he supported the banning of the Jaipong, the traditional West Java dance he called erotic. Let's take a khusnudz dzon (good prejudice) that the all President's men and women in the Cabi-net display Yudhoyono's sincere willingness to maintain checks and balances, by excluding the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the third-largest party in parliament, in his lineup. But we should not fully believe the PDI-P will play its role as an opposition party as it declared in the first term. The party's chief patron, Taufik Kiemas, has been appointed the People's Consultative Assembly speaker with the support of Yu-dhoyono's party. PDI-P secretary-general Pramono Anung has even stated the party will become a strategic partner (of government), a term known in economics and business, but not in political science. Individual politicians from the PDI-P and other parties could still be expected to voice opposition to the strong regime of Yudhoyono's. Besides parliament, an opposition role could be played by institutions such as civil society organizations, including religious groups, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, and the mass media. In many cases, such as clashes between religious groups as happened in past years, it proved effective. Hoping that NU and Muhammadiyah would act as opposition parties is wide open since the two largest moderate Islamic organizations must be angry and hate the administration after Yudhoyono decided not to pick their members as religious affairs and education ministers, as was traditionally done in the post-Soeharto era. Yudhoyono's decision not to include NU and Muhammadiyah members is politically correct in terms of democracy building because they are not political parties. His move to exclude them could be understood as retaliation for the organizations' support for Jusuf Kalla in the presidential election. Since the day of the Cabinet announcement, NU chairman
[wanita-muslimah] JAKARTA (Reuters), Thursday, 24 September 2009 - Changing the militant mindset - few signs of success
REUTERS Thursday, 24 September 2009 _ Changing the militant mindset - few signs of success Changing the militant mindset - few signs of success C REUTERS2009 By Olivia Rondonuwu JAKARTA (Reuters) - Jibril, a former Indonesian militant, describes his years of military training in Afghanistan from 1985 to 1987 as the best holiday in my whole life. He was one of the first batch of Indonesians to train in Afghanistan, where he met other mujahidin, from the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, India and Saudi Arabia, and learned guerrilla tactics and how to make and defuse bombs. On his return to Indonesia, Jibril, who like many Indonesians uses one name, joined the Muslim-Christian ethnic clashes in Ambon, Eastern Indonesia. He spent three years on the run from police who began rounding up Muslim activists linked to militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) after the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 foreigners and Indonesians. Eventually, in 2006, he turned himself in and joined Indonesia's de-radicalisation programme, a voluntary scheme which tries to get militants to accept a more moderate form of Islam. The de-radicalisation programme has proved controversial. Many Australians were shocked in 2007 when they learned that Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit had hosted a fast-breaking meal during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan for those convicted of the 2002 Bali bomb attacks. Jibril, now 46, is among the first to admit that the programme has its shortcomings. He still firmly believes in jihad. He was taught by radical clerics when he was young, and was strongly opposed to raids by the Indonesian military on Muslim activists in the early 1980s, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the more recent War on Terror by the United States and its allies. The bonds between him and fellow militants, whose agenda is to create an Islamic state, means they will always extend support to each other, he said, including shelter from the police. Generally, if he is a brother, we would help because we have a strong bond of friendship, Jibril said. Despite the risk they could be captured by police and jailed for up to seven years, it is hard to change the mindset of a militant, he said. We are like water that has been dipped with a teabag, we will never become plain water again, he said. DOES DE-RADICALISATION WORK? Some analysts also question whether such programmes can be effective in the long run or are, in fact, counter-productive. Some argue that in southern Thailand, the peace programmes actually played into the hands of the insurgents. Rehabilitation programmes by the Thai military have been disjointed, serving more as a public relations tool for the authorities. Analysts say it is highly unlikely any real militants have gone through the peace-building camps, which are held at army bases and teach correct Islam, government policy and the positive aspects of the Thai state. Thailand's Internal Security Operations Command told Reuters a total of 1,363 people have been put through the programmes. Many sent to the camps as rebel sympathisers are innocent villagers from so-called red zones where insurgent groups thrive. Many rehabilitated Malay Muslims were never involved in the rebellion and not opposed to the Thai state. The camps only turned some of them against the authorities, radicalising them and steering them towards the militant groups out of anger. Upon returning to their villages, they could be in danger, viewed with suspicion by both the rebels and the authorities. The government sent them to camps to reprogramme, retrain and indoctrinate them, and announced publicly that those released would become the eyes and ears of the security forces, said academic Duncan McCargo, who spent a year in the region doing research for his book on the conflict. Militant groups were suspicious that they were informants and state officials suspected them of being rebels. It had a destabilising impact on local communities. In Indonesia, over 400 suspected militants have been captured. About half have subsequently been released, and 238 have either completed or are currently in the de-radicalisation programme, according to a book published recently by Petrus Golose, a senior member of the Special Anti-Terror unit. BENEFITS FOR TIP-OFFS Golose said 103 people agreed to accept money from the government as financial assistance, admit their mistakes, and provide tip-offs or help in the de-radicalisation programme. Indonesian police claim it is possible to win back some hearts and minds with the de-radicalisation programme. One of their best known successes at home was Nasir Abas, the brother-in-law of Mukhlas, one of the three Bali bombers. Abas trained in Afghanistan and was a JI regional commander. But now, following his capture, he works with the police, lecturing to government officials and targeted militants on the inner workings of JI, and is
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, August 24, 2009 - Outrage Over 'Stolen' Pendet Dance Ends Up As a Misstep
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/malaysian-dance-outrage-ends-up-as-a-mis-ste p/325729 August 24, 2009 Kinanti Pinta Karana Putri Prameshwari Forget the myth, here's the real thing: Ni Ketut Arini teaches girls Pendet in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday. She was a student of Pendet creator I Wayan Rindi, who died in 1967. (Photo: J.P. Christo, JG) Forget the myth, here's the real thing: Ni Ketut Arini teaches girls Pendet in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday. She was a student of Pendet creator I Wayan Rindi, who died in 1967. (Photo: J.P. Christo, JG) Outrage Over 'Stolen' Pendet Dance Ends Up As a Misstep It was a burning issue of national pride that stirred up the righteous anger of a nation slighted. Well, not quite. A firestorm of Internet outrage over the supposed theft of the Balinese pendet dance for a Malaysian tourism ad turned out to be just hot air on Monday, when the Discovery TV network owned up and said that the dancers had appeared in one of its own TV promotions, and it was all a mistake anyway. But not before Indonesia's government, unaware of Discovery's action, had already made an official protest to Malaysia. The story started late last week, as rumors about the ad and reactions shot to the top of the social microblogging Web site Twitter's hot topics list. Pendet is ours! Noordin M. Top is yours! said one popular Twitter message, referring to the Malaysia-born terrorist suspect wanted in connection with the July 17 bombings in Jakarta. Over the weekend, news stories had reported, erroneously, that the image of a traditional Balinese pendet dancer was used in an official Malaysia Tourism ad. They were a touchpaper to reignite smouldering and long-standing antagonism between the two countries over the heritage of traditional songs and dances, and further stoked the furor on Twitter and Facebook. The problem was, it was all wrong - and perhaps a lesson in the myth-making power of the Internet - as an apology statement by Discovery made clear: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific regrets that the image of a Balinese dancer, sourced from an independent third party, was used in the promotion of the series 'Enigmatic Malaysia.' The promotional clip has been removed from all feeds. The Balinese dancer was not featured in any way in the program. Discovery has the deepest respect for the traditions, cultures and practices of all races and nations, and it is not our intention to cause any misunderstanding or distress to any party. Widyarka Ryananta, a senior diplomat at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, confirmed that the Malaysian government had never made an ad featuring pendet. It was all a misunderstanding. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, he told the Jakarta Globe. By the time Discovery's apology had been issued, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik had already sent a letter to his Malaysian counterpart, demanding the ad campaign be removed. It happened two years ago with Reog Ponorogo. We don't want it to happen again to us, he said. He said a bilateral pact signed in 2007 stated that if both countries wanted to publicize a culture in a grey area, they had to consult with each other first. But pendet was a different story: People around the world would recognize in a glance that pendet is a Balinese dance. There's nothing grey about it. After the error had been explained, Jero called on Indonesians to quickly register all forms of Indonesian cultural heritage to prevent such misunderstandings from reoccurring. We have so much cultural heritage, he said. We may accidentally neglect some of them. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.66/2325 - Release Date: 08/25/09 06:08:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Re: Malingsia (Malaysia) Berdarah Pencatut -- The Jakarta Globe, August 24, 2009: Outrage Over 'Stolen' Pendet Dance Ends Up As a Misstep
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/malaysian-dance-outrage-ends-up-as-a-mis-ste p/325729 August 24, 2009 Kinanti Pinta Karana Putri Prameshwari Forget the myth, here's the real thing: Ni Ketut Arini teaches girls Pendet in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday. She was a student of Pendet creator I Wayan Rindi, who died in 1967. (Photo: J.P. Christo, JG) Forget the myth, here's the real thing: Ni Ketut Arini teaches girls Pendet in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday. She was a student of Pendet creator I Wayan Rindi, who died in 1967. (Photo: J.P. Christo, JG) Outrage Over 'Stolen' Pendet Dance Ends Up As a Misstep It was a burning issue of national pride that stirred up the righteous anger of a nation slighted. Well, not quite. A firestorm of Internet outrage over the supposed theft of the Balinese pendet dance for a Malaysian tourism ad turned out to be just hot air on Monday, when the Discovery TV network owned up and said that the dancers had appeared in one of its own TV promotions, and it was all a mistake anyway. But not before Indonesia's government, unaware of Discovery's action, had already made an official protest to Malaysia. The story started late last week, as rumors about the ad and reactions shot to the top of the social microblogging Web site Twitter's hot topics list. Pendet is ours! Noordin M. Top is yours! said one popular Twitter message, referring to the Malaysia-born terrorist suspect wanted in connection with the July 17 bombings in Jakarta. Over the weekend, news stories had reported, erroneously, that the image of a traditional Balinese pendet dancer was used in an official Malaysia Tourism ad. They were a touchpaper to reignite smouldering and long-standing antagonism between the two countries over the heritage of traditional songs and dances, and further stoked the furor on Twitter and Facebook. The problem was, it was all wrong - and perhaps a lesson in the myth-making power of the Internet - as an apology statement by Discovery made clear: Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific regrets that the image of a Balinese dancer, sourced from an independent third party, was used in the promotion of the series 'Enigmatic Malaysia.' The promotional clip has been removed from all feeds. The Balinese dancer was not featured in any way in the program. Discovery has the deepest respect for the traditions, cultures and practices of all races and nations, and it is not our intention to cause any misunderstanding or distress to any party. Widyarka Ryananta, a senior diplomat at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, confirmed that the Malaysian government had never made an ad featuring pendet. It was all a misunderstanding. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, he told the Jakarta Globe. By the time Discovery's apology had been issued, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik had already sent a letter to his Malaysian counterpart, demanding the ad campaign be removed. It happened two years ago with Reog Ponorogo. We don't want it to happen again to us, he said. He said a bilateral pact signed in 2007 stated that if both countries wanted to publicize a culture in a grey area, they had to consult with each other first. But pendet was a different story: People around the world would recognize in a glance that pendet is a Balinese dance. There's nothing grey about it. After the error had been explained, Jero called on Indonesians to quickly register all forms of Indonesian cultural heritage to prevent such misunderstandings from reoccurring. We have so much cultural heritage, he said. We may accidentally neglect some of them. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.66/2325 - Release Date: 08/25/09 06:08:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] JAKARTA, Aug. 24 (AFP) - Indonesia police dismiss Obam a plot report
Indonesia police dismiss Obama plot report JAKARTA, Aug. 24 (AFP) - Indonesian police on Monday dismissed a media report saying that Islamist extremists were planning to assassinate US President Barack Obama when he visits the country. National police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri said analyst Dynno Chressbon, the Indonesian source quoted in the Western news agency's report, had no right to make what he described as unsubstantiated comments. He said police knew of no Islamist plot to assassinate Obama, who is expected to visit the mainly Muslim country later this year. As if there's a bomb being prepared for the arrival of the US president -- that has never existed. What observer is bold enough to say something like that? Danuri told a news conference. I stress... there's no such thing. The national police and our related agencies conduct research and evaluate such things. We don't use any other 'observers' to uncover terrorist plots. Dynno Chressbon had no business (making such statements) -- there's no such thing, said Danuri, who was briefing reporters on efforts to crack down Islamist extremism after deadly hotel blasts in Jakarta last month. Chressbon was unavailable to respond to the police chief's comments. His phone was either switched off or he hung up saying he could not hear the caller when contacted by AFP. In the news agency report on August 20, he was described as an expert from the Indonesian Center for Intelligence and National Security who is close to the police investigations. Other security analysts have disputed his claims that snipers planned to assassinate Obama as he left Jakarta's main international airport, saying for instance that the US president would land at a more secure military facility. Obama is expected to visit Indonesia, where he lived for some years as a child, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore in November. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.65/2324 - Release Date: 08/24/09 12:55:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Thu, 08/20/2009 8:50 AM - Opinion: A Nice Try
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/20/a-nice-try.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) A nice try The Jakarta Post | Thu, 08/20/2009 8:50 AM | Opinion At first glance, the National Police (Polri) proposal - which the Indonesian Military (TNI) also gave the nod to - to give security authorities more legal clout when dealing with terrorists and their supporters is a positive sign, and deserves the full support of all parts of the nation. The proposal came in alongside a TNI plan - channeled through the Army headquarters - to reactivate intelligence units at military command posts (Korem) nationwide. It is true that an all-out battle against terrorism is a necessity. However, this proposal and plan need to be carefully examined so as to avoid repeating past mistakes, such as violating the human rights of people allegedly implicated in terrorist activities, or suspected of supporting terrorists. Do we really want to go back to the days when our guaranteed freedoms and rights were sidelined for the sake of security and economic development? Where have all those noble principles of presumption of innocence and equality before the law disappeared to? The arguments provided by Polri are reasonable and coincide with the public's wish to live in a country free from all forms of terrorism. However, Polri said the authority to detain terror suspects for seven days without an arrest warrant was not enough to completely deter terrorism, as the 2003 law on terrorism did not allow them to detain people who colluded with terrorist groups. The individual citizen's liberty and granted rights have come under further threat after the police indicated a plan to adopt the ISA (Internal Security Act), a piece of legislation very similar to that passed in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, and said to have been successful in uprooting terrorism there. Should the plan become concrete, all our achievements as a democratic country could be erased, as we will have to say goodbye to all of our freedoms and basic rights as individuals. We have endured enough under Soeharto's repressive New Order government and we do not want the re-emergence of another Soeharto in the future. Perhaps the most worrying fact is that the proposal came in the wake of the police's - and the intelligence community's - failure to detect the whereabouts and capture the most wanted terror fugitive Noordin M. Top. Instead of improving their counter-terrorism skills and capability, the police have opted to seek stronger legal support to perform their counter-terrorism activities, which might overlap with the existing 2002 law on the National Police. The 2002 law on the National Police is substantially more than enough to provide the police with the legal umbrella they are looking for. Article 41 of the law, for example, allows the police to seek help from the TNI when establishing security and order. With regard to improving our intelligence community's capability to detect and prevent potential acts of terrorism, it is perhaps necessary to restore the State Intelligence Agency's (BIN) coordinating role regarding data and information gathering, a role that the then much-feared National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (BAKIN) once held in the past. Any plan to reinstate the intelligence agency's coordinating role must also come with stipulations preventing the agency from carrying out abusive practices. As former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli says: We are not creatures of circumstance, we are creators of circumstance. Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/20/a-nice-try.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.61/2314 - Release Date: 08/19/09 18:06:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Thu, 08/20/2009 10:06 AM - Journalists urged to learn more about religion
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/20/journalists-urged-learn-more-a bout-religion.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Journalists urged to learn more about religion The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Thu, 08/20/2009 10:06 AM | National Knowing about religion is essential to understand many major news stories, but media in Indonesia and the United States have mostly failed to grasp the religious context of the news, concluded a book seminar. The world is religious and some say it's getting more religious. The problem is most American journalists are ignorant about religious matters, said Paul Marshall, a senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, at a book review seminar titled Blind Spot: When Journalists Don't Get Religion, on Wednesday. Endy Bayuni, the chief editor of The Jakarta Post, said the situation was different in Indonesia. Religion has always been important for Indonesian people. Journalists respect religion. However, most editors in Indonesia prefer to avoid religious issues, Endy said. Endy added Indonesian media was used to avoiding religious issues since the New Order era. During that era, the government forbade the media from writing about religious issues, especially about the religious dimension of conflicts. He added most media had been reluctant to write about the harassment of religious minority groups like Ahmadiyah, or church attacks in Indonesia. Bahtiar Effendy, a political professor at Jakarta Islamic State University, said most writing about religion by Indonesian journalists was shallow. Even the leading newspapers do not write with a deep understanding of religious matters, especially about Islam. But, they also do not make big mistakes, Bahtiar said. Marshall said there was an increasing demand for information about religious issues. In the book titled Blind Spot, the writers argue that in democratic countries, the role of religion in politics is increasing. Democracy is giving the world's people their voice, and many want to talk about God, Marshall said. Marshall warned that taking religion as important part of journalism did not necessarily mean always writing about the religious issue in every story. The most important thing is a journalist should understand whether the religion factor can help explain the story, he said. Marshall gave as an example the importance of religion in the Bali bombing case. It is important to address that the perpetrators acted based on their version of Islam. Yes, most Indonesians do not believe in the bombers' version of Islam, but still, Islam was an important factor in the bombers' beliefs, he said. Bahtiar also said religion was an important factor explaining conflicts in political, economic or even legal spheres. In Indonesia, most Indonesian [journalists] like to view conflicts as triggered by differences between ethnicities, political stances, or the gaps in the economic situation. However, when there is a religious dimension in conflicts, the journalists prefer to overlook it, he added. Bahtiar said many journalists missed the connection between politics, the economy and religion. The journalists just have to study more. You cannot expect someone to master religion just because they are writing about religion in limited deadlines, Marshall said. (mrs) Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/20/journalists-urged-learn-more-a bout-religion.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.61/2314 - Release Date: 08/19/09 18:06:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Sat, 08/15/2009 1:24 PM - SpecialReport: Terrorist families linked by history to Darul Islam
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/15/specialreport-terrorist-famili es-linked-history-darul-islam.html mhtml:http://64.19.142.6/multipart/20090816/9/25/www.thejakartapost.com_0_13 e0fe55e0baee92359bc6e7fbbb8707.mht!http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost _logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) SpecialReport: Terrorist families linked by history to Darul Islam Sat, 08/15/2009 1:24 PM | Special Report Brought together by a shared belief and aim in setting up an Islamic state of Indonesia and fighting for marginalized Muslims, the family of Ahmad Kandai has devoted their entire lives to fighting for such a cause. Ahmad is a noted figure in the Darul Islam (DI) hard-line movement that sought to turn Indonesia into an Islamic state between 1942 and 1962. His older brother, Nasir, tried to assassinate former president Sukarno in November 1957 in Cikini, Central Jakarta, after the country's first leader initiated the Nasakom doctrine that combined nationalist, religious and communist principles. Nasir was executed by the military without trial. Ahmad's sons - Farihin, Abdul Jabar, Mohamad Islam, Solahuddin and Mohamad Yasir - all claim to be jihadist by nature. We're all involved 'in terrorism', says Farihin, who spent three years in Afghanistan in the 1980s, fighting with the Mujahedeen against Russia. Maybe it's because of our vows to uphold Islamic law, despite the traumatic history of our family. Our historical ties with DI encourage us stay ever true to our course. Farihin was convicted twice for his involvement in the bloody sectarian conflicts in Poso, Central Sulawesi, in 1999 and 2001. He served time in prison between 2000 and 2001, and then again from 2002 to 2004 for possession of explosives. He now lives in Central Jakarta, working as an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver and selling honey and herbal medicine. Since 2006, Farihin has taken part in a de-radicalization program run by the police and the University of Indonesia. Even if I no longer take the violent path, I still work to uphold Islamic law through preaching and discussions with people in my neighborhood, says Farihin, a self professed fan of US coffee chain Starbucks' cappuccino. Farihin adds he is teaching his three children to follow in his path of fighting the injustices suffered by Muslims and upholding the spirit of the DI as conceived by their forefathers. Ahmad's second son, Abdul Jabar, meanwhile, took part in the bombing of the Philippines Embassy in Jakarta in 2000 that killed two and injured dozens, including Philippines Ambassador Leonides Caday. He is now serving a 20-year sentence at the notorious Nusakambangan Penitentiary off Central Java. Ahmad's third son, Mohamad Islam, was involved in the Poso conflicts and jailed for nine months, while his fourth son, Solahuddin, was involved in bombing the Atrium Senen Mall in Central Jakarta in 2001. Solahuddin was recently released from prison. The fifth brother, Mohamad Yasir, was also involved in the Poso conflict, but was cleared of all charges. Another notorious DI-linked family is the Al-Ghozi family. The senior Al-Ghozi was a top DI member who was jailed under Sukarno. His eldest son, Faturrahman Al-Ghozi, was shot dead by Philippine police for his involvement in a bombing in Manila in 2000. Younger brother Ahmad Rofiq Ridho is currently serving a jail term for sheltering Malaysian fugitive Noordin M. Top, Southeast Asia's most wanted terrorist. DI is to some extent ingrained within the structure of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and even in several elite levels of an Islamic party. DI, also known also as the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) is a hardcore political movement proclaimed on Aug. 7, 1949, by Sekarmadji Maridjan Kartosoewirjo in Tasikmalaya, West Java. Kartosoewirjo's execution by the military in 1962 offi cially ended the movement, but splinters of the organization exist to this day, although at a clandestine level. Intelligence expert Dino Chrisbon believes the current suspects in the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotel bombings are not linked to JI, but come from cells aimed at reviving the DI movement. These members now identify themselves as the DI and NII movements, he says. By qualification, these people are just as dangerous as their predecessors. Thus there is no reason to stop the surveillance of these men. Analysts also believe Noordin has been recruiting from within DI ranks because of the followers' familiarity with the ideology he espouses. With the government lacking a comprehensive de-radicalization program, it remains to be seen whether the thousands of descendants of DI followers are gaining strength and giving rise to extremists and further terrorism across the archipelago. Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL:
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Sat, 08/15/2009 1:25 PM - SpecialReport: Seeds of terror nurtured as teaching of hate proliferates
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/15/specialreport-seeds-terror-nur tured-teaching-hate-proliferates.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) SpecialReport: Seeds of terror nurtured as teaching of hate proliferates Sat, 08/15/2009 1:25 PM | Special Report Indonesia is facing an ongoing struggle against terrorists, their extremist supporters and fi rebrand clerics as counterterror forces move in those linked with the Jakarta hotel bombings. It is becoming evident that extremist Islam, while not supported by the majority in Indonesia, is still treated with a high degree of public permissiveness, complacency from the government and silence by Islamic parties. The Jakarta Post's Rendi Akhmad Witular and Andra Wisnu explore some of the root causes for radical support in Indonesia. Radical cleric Abubakar Ba'asyir attempted to reignite Islamic extremist sentiments Thursday as he oversaw the hero's welcome for the bodies of deceased terrorists Air Setyawan and Eko Joko Sarjono in Sragen, Central Java. Hundreds of hard-line Muslims lined the streets to praise the men, who are widely believed to be responsible for the Jakarta hotel bombings on July 17 that killed nine and left dozens wounded. Before his followers, Abubakar declared Air and Eko as Mujahid (a person involved in Jihad or fighting in the name of Islam), which is considered the highest honor to be granted to a Muslim. Fears are mounting that Abubakar's statements may fuel younger followers of Islam, some of whom are exposed to extremism in their Islamic boarding schools and small prayer groups, to empathize with terrorist ideology. Efforts to influence youngsters with radical ideologies has already been widely reported throughout Indonesia, with certain firebrand clerics directing messages of anger at infidels and the Muslims who support them. These kind of clerics who encourage violence are undoubtedly helping create future terrorists, said Ansjaad Mbai, head of the counterterrorism desk at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs. But our society is in general too permissive toward these kinds of teachings, believing an urban legend that terrorism in Indonesia is masterminded by the intelligence services. The acceptance of such teachings has started to creep into Indonesia's middle class. A weekly sermon involving housewives in a residential area in Pamulang, Tanggerang - just 5 kilometers from South Jakarta - happily agreed to a request from their clerics to donate money to cover the burial expenses of terrorist Imam Samudra, who was executed in November 2008. The donations were also used for other practices related to the spread of God's will, which includes Jihad. These occurrences, however, seem to be ignored by Islamic political parties, notably the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), now the nation's largest Islamic political powerhouse. Senior officials with the PKS historically had links to the now defunct Darul Islam movement, which pushed for Indonesia to become an Islamic state. Analysts say the party has so far played little to no role trying to diffuse radical teachings. The party should be getting out into society to try and prevent people from becoming involved with radical teachings or movements that lead toward terrorism, said Noor Huda Ismail, founder of the Prasasti Perdamaian Foundation, which engages with former terrorists to try rehabilitate them. I have not seen any effort *by PKS* or any other parties or government agencies to actually engaged in the rehabilitation *of terrorists*. Chairman of the PKS at the House of Representatives, Al Muzzammil Yusuf, claimed the party had made significant gains eradicating radicalism, and insisted terrorism in Indonesia was probably being masterminded by Western intelligence communities. While other Islamic parties have sent their senior officials to visit the victims of the recent attacks on JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels, PKS senior officials have kept things low. I just happen to have not had the chance to visit them *the victims*, said PKS chairman Tiffatul Sembiring. Ansjaad said political parties were supposed to be helping spearhead counterterrorism by pushing the government to strengthen regulations on terrorism and persuade clerics against delivering hard line sermons. Yudhoyono, despite declaring terrorism a crime against humanity, has not yet prioritized the establishment of any programs aimed at softening radicalism movements and preventing the emergency of future terrorist sympathizers. Programs should include measures for identifying potentially radical clerics and for reforming convicted terrorists in prison. The only steps taken to discourage radicalism and rehabilitate former terrorists have been by the police, the University of Indonesia (UI) and the Prasasti Perdamaian Foundation,
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Sat, 08/15/2009 1:25 PM - SpecialReport: Saifudin Jaelani; Noordin's prodigy in action
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/15/specialreport-saifudin-jaelani -noordin039s-prodigy-action.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) SpecialReport: Saifudin Jaelani; Noordin's prodigy in action Sat, 08/15/2009 1:25 PM | Special Report Malaysian Noordin M. Top has a new darling and master recruiter who is expected to take up his notorious course of terror. His name is Saifudin Jaelani (SJ) alias Saifudin Zuhri bin Jaelani Irsyad. Saifudin has proven himself to be a lethal recruiter of suicide bombers, if the police are correct in believing that he recruited Dani Dwi Permana and Nana Ikhwan Permana, who both blew themselves up at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. Operating in a chameleon-like fashion, Saifudin has patiently waited for three years to prepare suicide bombers by masquerading as a cleric and seller of herbal medicine in the middle-scale Telaga Kahuripan residential compound in Parung, Bogor, West Java. As a veteran of the Poso sectarian conflict, less is known about Saifudin, who originates from Kuningan, West Java, and has two children. The only valuable information may come from Amir Abdillah alias Ahmad Fery Rhamdani, who was once married to one of Saifudin's relatives. Amir was detained by the police on Aug. 6 in Semper, North Jakarta, for allegedly being involved in the recent Jakarta hotel bombings. He rented a safe house in Jatiasih, Bekasi, which police raided Dead or alive: A police stamps a poster showing the latest terrorist fugitives in a restaurant in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday. on Aug. 8. He also ordered room 1808 at the JW Marriott, where the suicide bombers stayed before the attacks. Sources at the police believe that Saifudin, assisted by Amir, has several suicide bombers ready to unleash their terror. Saifudin has scored a terrorist record in being able to recruit Dani (19), a recent high school graduate and the country's youngest suicide bomber ever. His skill may surpass Noordin's as Dani was raised in a middle-class family, who were expected to be more conscious and aware of Dani's irregular behavior. The police also believed Saifudin received a bank transfer amounting to Rp 1 billion (US$100,000) for the recent attack. Until now, the police remain tight-lipped over the issue. Saifudin's last known location was Surakarta - the police's supposed raid location. Another new figure in Noordin's network is Urwah alias Budi, who is a former prisoner once sentenced for three-and-a-half years for sheltering Noordin. Urwah is believed to have a close link with senior clerics of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI). The police believe Urwah recruited Air Setiyawan and Eko Sarjono -both killed in a raid on terrorist safe house in Jatiasih, Bekasi, on Aug. 8. Additional reporting by Dicky Christanto. Copyright C 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved. _ Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/15/specialreport-saifudin-jaelani -noordin039s-prodigy-action.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.13.58/2306 - Release Date: 08/16/09 06:09:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Globe, 10 August 2009 - Indonesia Must Hit Terrorism at Its Roots by Tackling Recruitment at Islamic Schools
http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesian-government-must-hit-terrorism-at- its-roots-by-tackling-recruitment-at-islamic-schools/323124 Joe Cochrane Indonesia Must Hit Terrorism at Its Roots by Tackling Recruitment at Islamic Schools Analysis Noordin M Top has certainly lived by the sword, so it would have been fitting if he had met his demise amid a hail of bullets and bomb explosions inside a farmhouse in Central Java over the weekend. It seems certain that the alleged mastermind of the July 17 twin suicide bombings in South Jakarta - as well as other attacks in the capital and on Bali - is still at large. Aside from his fanatical, extremist interpretations of Islam and willingness to kill scores of civilians in pursuit of his goals, Noordin is considered even more dangerous for his ability to recruit pawns to carry out attacks, in particular young suicide bombers. It was likely his followers would attempt to carry on his work in the event he was captured or killed. His legend would rise. It would be a great recruiting tool, said Ken Conboy, author of Inside Jemaah Islamiyah, Asia's Most Dangerous Terrorist Network. Tracking down and rolling up Noordin's network - and the man himself given that DNA tests are expected to come back negative - is the job of Detachment 88, the National Police counter-terrorism unit. But analysts say the central government must take a long-term view of the country's terrorism problem and begin tackling it at its source. Terrorism's roots, they say, lie within the country's Islamic boarding schools. According to Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group, about 50 pesantrens are believed linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, the regional terrorist network of which Noordin was once a key member. The schools are still important, less for what they teach than for the connections made there, said Jones, a JI expert. It's not so much 'massive' recruiting that's the problem, but more that I would place the santri [orthodox Muslims] at these schools near the top of vulnerable populations for recruitment. And it only takes a visit by one extremist to bring a couple more on board. Indonesia has as many as 45,000 Islamic boarding schools, Jones said, but only about 15,000 are registered with the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Analysts have criticized the ministry for not overseeing the schools' curriculums, which could be blinds for private study sessions for handpicked students with extremist teachers. Despite the difficulties the government would have intervening in Islamic schools, Nasaruddin Umar, the Religious Affairs Ministry's director general for mass guidance on Islam, said expanded oversight was inevitable. We have to control the curriculums of all the pesantrens. I have found many, many problems, he said. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.49/2294 - Release Date: 08/10/09 06:10:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: Reuters, Sat Aug 8, 2009 5:27am EDT - Q+A: Noordin Mohammad Top and Islamic militancy in Indonesia
From: Dharmawan Ronodipuro [mailto:dharmawan_ronodip...@ireland.com] Sent: Saturday, 08 August, 2009 20:24 To: Ansyaad Mbai (an.m...@gmail.com) Cc: Louisa M. Tuhatu (louisatuh...@gmail.com) Subject: Reuters, Sat Aug 8, 2009 5:27am EDT - Q+A: Noordin Mohammad Top and Islamic militancy in Indonesia http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5770TT20090808 http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Print javascript:window.print(); | Close this window javascript:%20window.close(); Q+A: Noordin Mohammad Top and Islamic militancy in Indonesia Sat Aug 8, 2009 5:27am EDT By Ed http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=Ed.Davies Davies JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian police have shot dead a man suspected to be leading Islamic militant Noordin Mohammad Top during raids in Central Java and were trying to identify his body, police sources said on Saturday. Top is suspected to be the mastermind behind last month's near simultaneous suicide attacks on Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, which killed nine people and wounded 53, as well as a number of other bombings in Jakarta and Bali. WHO IS NOORDIN MOHAMMAD TOP? - Top was born in Johor, southern Malaysia, and turned to militant Islam after university and a spell as an accountant. He fled to Indonesia with fellow Malaysian and expert bomb-maker Azahari Husin following a domestic crackdown after the September 11 attacks in 2001. He became a key figure in militant group Jemaah Islamiah and is suspected of planning attacks on the JW Marriott in Jakarta in 2003, on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in 2004 and in Bali in 2005. He formed a far more violent splinter group in 2003 after his hardline stance on violence put him at odds with other JI members. His partner Husin was killed in a police raid in 2005, but Top remained on the run to continue his career as a jihadist. WHY IS TOP CONSIDERED SO IMPORTANT? - While the mainstream JI has backed away from supporting violence, at least on Indonesian soil, Top has not. Helped by his professional background, analysts say Top became an expert in planning attacks, knowing how to find safe houses, undertake surveillance and mix explosives. Ken Conboy, a security consultant and author, said Top's key role was his ability to recruit suicide bombers ...to me that is the real key that he was able to get these village boys and convince them often in just matter of days to give their lives. Analysts also say he was quick to improvise tactics after, for example, some of his early attacks killed many Indonesian Muslims and as security was increased at some targets. Since the Australian embassy bombing, the stated aim of his group -- Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad, or Organization for the Base of Jihad -- has been to make Western nations tremble. The attacks last month may have targeted a business meeting attended by several foreigners that was taking place in the Marriott when the bomber struck. HOW WAS HE ABLE TO GO FREE FOR SO LONG? - Some mystical Javanese believe Top must possess magic powers or charms that protect him. He is thought to have escaped a raid in Central Java in 2006 when two other alleged militants were killed. Police put it down to his reluctance to use easily tracked mobile phones and his reliance on a close network of sympathizers who guard his whereabouts and act as his couriers when he needs to send messages to his cells. WHAT WOULD HIS DEMISE MEAN FOR MILITANT ISLAM IN INDONESIA? - Most Indonesian Muslims follow a moderate form of Islam, but an increasingly vocal radical fringe has grown in recent years in Indonesia's young democracy. Top had built up something of a cult following, particularly among some younger militants, who dismissively refer to many senior JI members as NATO -- No Action, Talk Only. So his death could demoralize radicals, although it could also mean he is viewed as a martyr. In practical terms, analysts say that his demise will be a big blow to his group and the capture of key members will mean police should be able to quickly unravel much of the network. (Additional reporting by Olivia Rondonuwu and Karima Anjani; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani) C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Sat Aug 8, 2009 1:30am EDT - Asia's most wanted said killed in Indonesia
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5770LZ20090808 http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Print javascript:window.print(); | Close this window javascript:%20window.close(); Asia's most wanted said killed in Indonesia Sat Aug 8, 2009 1:30am EDT By Olivia http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=Olivia.Rondonuw u Rondonuwu JAKARTA (Reuters) - Noordin Mohammad Top, the Muslim militant who police say is the chief suspect in last month's suicide bomb attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta and other deadly attacks, is one of Asia's most wanted men. Indonesian police sources said on Saturday they believed the former accountant and maths teacher had been killed during raids in Central Java and were trying to identify his body. Malaysian-born Top was once a key figure in Jemaah Islamiah, a militant group that aimed to create a caliphate across Southeast Asia, but analysts say he created his own more violent splinter group in 2003. He is suspected of planning the bomb attacks on the JW Marriott in Jakarta in 2003, on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in 2004 and in Bali in 2005 -- attacks designed to scare off foreign tourists and businesses. Experts said the near-simultaneous attacks last month at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta's main business district used explosives identical to those found in previous Jemaah Islamiah attacks. The attacks came after a lull of four years during which Indonesia achieved political stability and strong economic growth after a decade of tumult following the ouster of former autocratic president Suharto. Indonesia's violent jihad seemed to have subsided. Top's partner, the Malaysian bomb-maker Azahari Husin, was killed in 2005. Two Jemaah Islamiah militants were jailed in April 2008, and three Bali bombers were executed in November that year. Top had not been heard from in several years. The July 17 attacks that killed nine people, including two suspected bombers, and injured scores, seemed to signal he had returned to the fray. MAGIC POWERS Top fled to Indonesia with Azahari following a Malaysian crackdown on militants just before the suicide airline attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Intelligence officials say the two men plotted attacks and recruited young Indonesians, some of them from Islamic boarding schools, to carry them out. Top was the financier and Azahari the bomb-maker. Newspapers called them the Money Man and the Demolition Man. Indonesian troops from the elite Detachment 88 -- the same force that apparently has tracked down Top -- cornered Azahari, an engineer and former university lecturer, at a house in East Java in November 2005. The father of two was killed, either by a police bullet or by a bomb set off by an accomplice. Some mystical Javanese believe Top must possess magic powers or charms that protect him. He is thought to have escaped a raid in Central Java in 2006 when two other alleged militants were killed. Police put it down to his reluctance to use easily tracked mobile phones and his reliance on a close network of sympathizers who guard his whereabouts and act as his couriers when he needs to send messages to his cells. Top re-married and depended on his immediate family to hide and help him, Indonesian counter-terrorism officials say, showing how hard it is to snuff out militancy in Indonesia despite hundreds of arrests and a comprehensive program to deradicalize extremists. Analysts said Top has been acting on his own since 2003, and has gained a near mythical status among some younger, more radical members of Jemaah Islamiah and other groups. Top's ability to recruit suicide bombers was the key to his success, said Ken Conboy, a security consultant at Risk Management Advisory and author of books on Indonesian security issues. To me that is the real key; that he was able to get these usually village boys and convince them often in just matter of days to give their lives, Conboy told Reuters. Now that he's gone out of that role, that's a big blow to what's left of that organization. He reportedly made a video on DIY bomb construction, which included lessons on how martyrs should perform their final ritual acts, including prayers and debt repayments, and how to create a video-will. Top, 40, was born in Johor, southern Malaysia, and completed a bachelor of science at the University of Technology, Malaysia in 1991. He worked briefly as an accountant before launching a career as a jihadist with a bounty of 1 billion rupiah ($99,450) on his head. Top's disagreement with other Jemaah Islamiah members over the use of violence, even if they killed Indonesians, led him in 2003 to form a far more violent splinter group called Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad, or Organization for the Base of Jihad. His death, if confirmed, would be a major blow against violent jihad in Indonesia, Conboy said. Now
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Sat Aug 8, 2009 1:30am EDT - Asia's most wanted said killed in Indonesia
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5770LZ20090808 http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Print javascript:window.print(); | Close this window javascript:%20window.close(); Asia's most wanted said killed in Indonesia Sat Aug 8, 2009 1:30am EDT By Olivia http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=usn=Olivia.Rondonuw u Rondonuwu JAKARTA (Reuters) - Noordin Mohammad Top, the Muslim militant who police say is the chief suspect in last month's suicide bomb attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta and other deadly attacks, is one of Asia's most wanted men. Indonesian police sources said on Saturday they believed the former accountant and maths teacher had been killed during raids in Central Java and were trying to identify his body. Malaysian-born Top was once a key figure in Jemaah Islamiah, a militant group that aimed to create a caliphate across Southeast Asia, but analysts say he created his own more violent splinter group in 2003. He is suspected of planning the bomb attacks on the JW Marriott in Jakarta in 2003, on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in 2004 and in Bali in 2005 -- attacks designed to scare off foreign tourists and businesses. Experts said the near-simultaneous attacks last month at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta's main business district used explosives identical to those found in previous Jemaah Islamiah attacks. The attacks came after a lull of four years during which Indonesia achieved political stability and strong economic growth after a decade of tumult following the ouster of former autocratic president Suharto. Indonesia's violent jihad seemed to have subsided. Top's partner, the Malaysian bomb-maker Azahari Husin, was killed in 2005. Two Jemaah Islamiah militants were jailed in April 2008, and three Bali bombers were executed in November that year. Top had not been heard from in several years. The July 17 attacks that killed nine people, including two suspected bombers, and injured scores, seemed to signal he had returned to the fray. MAGIC POWERS Top fled to Indonesia with Azahari following a Malaysian crackdown on militants just before the suicide airline attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Intelligence officials say the two men plotted attacks and recruited young Indonesians, some of them from Islamic boarding schools, to carry them out. Top was the financier and Azahari the bomb-maker. Newspapers called them the Money Man and the Demolition Man. Indonesian troops from the elite Detachment 88 -- the same force that apparently has tracked down Top -- cornered Azahari, an engineer and former university lecturer, at a house in East Java in November 2005. The father of two was killed, either by a police bullet or by a bomb set off by an accomplice. Some mystical Javanese believe Top must possess magic powers or charms that protect him. He is thought to have escaped a raid in Central Java in 2006 when two other alleged militants were killed. Police put it down to his reluctance to use easily tracked mobile phones and his reliance on a close network of sympathizers who guard his whereabouts and act as his couriers when he needs to send messages to his cells. Top re-married and depended on his immediate family to hide and help him, Indonesian counter-terrorism officials say, showing how hard it is to snuff out militancy in Indonesia despite hundreds of arrests and a comprehensive program to deradicalize extremists. Analysts said Top has been acting on his own since 2003, and has gained a near mythical status among some younger, more radical members of Jemaah Islamiah and other groups. Top's ability to recruit suicide bombers was the key to his success, said Ken Conboy, a security consultant at Risk Management Advisory and author of books on Indonesian security issues. To me that is the real key; that he was able to get these usually village boys and convince them often in just matter of days to give their lives, Conboy told Reuters. Now that he's gone out of that role, that's a big blow to what's left of that organization. He reportedly made a video on DIY bomb construction, which included lessons on how martyrs should perform their final ritual acts, including prayers and debt repayments, and how to create a video-will. Top, 40, was born in Johor, southern Malaysia, and completed a bachelor of science at the University of Technology, Malaysia in 1991. He worked briefly as an accountant before launching a career as a jihadist with a bounty of 1 billion rupiah ($99,450) on his head. Top's disagreement with other Jemaah Islamiah members over the use of violence, even if they killed Indonesians, led him in 2003 to form a far more violent splinter group called Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad, or Organization for the Base of Jihad. His death, if confirmed, would be a major blow against violent jihad in Indonesia, Conboy said. Now they're
[wanita-muslimah] New Straits Times, 29 July 2009 - JI's reappearance a cause for concern
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/16jema/Article/ http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/index_html New Straits Times _ ANDRIN RAJ JI's reappearance a cause for concern 2009/07/29 Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for the recent twin bombings in Jakarta. The attacks highlight the swift need to disable the terrorist organisation before it can cause more destruction across Southeast Asia, writes ANDRIN RAJ THE recent bombings of the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels in Jakarta was not surprising, as the re-emergence of Jemaah Islamiyah has been evident for the last year and a half. The escape of Mas Selamat Kastari from Singapore was part of the re-emergence of JI in Southeast Asia. That he managed to swim from Singapore to Johor Baru should have been a warning to the authorities in the region. Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines remain JI targets. Mas Selamat, the JI leader of Mantiqi 1 of Singapore, which covers Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, is a close aide of Noordin Mohammad Top, the JI operations leader in Southeast Asia, still at large. Noordin remains a key figure in JI and remains part of the larger Southeast Asian terrorist organisation. JI is the only terrorist organisation in the region with a clear and structured operational modus operandi. It recruits its members from the Southeast Asian region. Since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, authorities have crippled most of the terrorist cells in the region. JI moved much of its training operations to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mas Selamat's one-year disappearance would have given him the opportunity to plan new attacks with his accomplice Noordin, without whom these attacks could not have occurred. Mas Selamat in Malaysia would have had access to sleeping cells in the region. The Internet would have enabled correspondence with Noordin, currently believed to be in Indonesia. As much as these are monitored, the authorities are aware of the difficulties of tracing Internet mail. Mas Selamat's capture in Malaysia earlier this year is a key element of the recent bombings in Jakarta. Terrorist groups have to plan such major strikes in advance. When the authorities in Malaysia captured Mas Selamat, they also detained several JI members, some of whom were new recruits. The information elicited from them may only have been part of a bigger plan. Evidence gathered by the Indonesian authorities indicates that the bombs were of homemade explosives, similar to those made by bomb experts such as Noordin and Malaysian-born Azahari Hussein, who was killed in a shoot-out with police in Malang, Central Java, in late 2005. Noordin is currently the most senior JI member and commands authority in such attacks. These bombings could have been assisted by Mas Selamat in the initial planning. Thailand and the Philippines must also be vigilant and ready to address this threat. In forestalling these threats, the authorities should expect the unexpected. The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott bombings were the work of suicide bombers. Closed-circuit television footage revealed a suicide bomber with a backpack in front of his body. This indicated loopholes in security procedures, and suggested the complicity of insiders. Suicide bombers are known to work with two accomplices in proximity. The escort is the person the authorities should identify; the suicide bomber is dead. The other is usually a photographer who would be taking snapshots of the incident from a safe distance. This is characteristic of a JI operation and should be taken seriously, as more attacks are likely in the near future. Indonesia has some 360 extremist organisations operating legally. Evidence gathered in 2002 around Indonesia showed extremist rallies taking place regularly all over Indonesia. This intensified after the 9/11 attacks, when members of these organisations wore military outfits and rallied in support of al-Qaeda, with pictures of Osama bin Laden on T-shirts. JI is classified as a terrorist organisation by the US but not in Indonesia, where it is difficult for authorities to curtail religious groups. A plan to pass a law addressing the existence of extremist organisations has been pending for some time, but has not made any appreciable progress. The Indonesian authorities should address these issues immediately. Not doing so might undermine the political foundations of Indonesia. The writer is a terrorism analyst with the International Association for Counter-Terrorism and Security Professionals. The views expressed here are his own _ Write to the Editor for editorial enquiry or Sales Department for sales and advertising enquiry. Copyright C 2009 NST Online. All rights reserved. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2270 - Release Date: 07/29/09 06:12:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been
[wanita-muslimah] BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, July 29, 2009 - Indonesian official urges changes in terror law
BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific, July 29, 2009 Indonesian official urges changes in terror law Indonesian newspaper Kompas Cyber media website on 28 July reported that the Head of the Counter-terrorism Desk at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Inspector General (retd) Ansyaad Mbai, said on 27 July 2009 that there are elements of Indonesian society which take a tolerant view of terrorists and their ideology. As a result of this stance, terrorists are able to find shelter. He pointed to the example of Noordin M Top, who even married [while on the run]. According to Mbai, this tolerant attitude is not found in other countries, including Malaysia. When terrorist leader Azahari was wanted by police, his family had to move about because they were not accepted in local neighbourhoods. In addition, Mbai believes that terrorist ideology is accepted and able to develop in Indonesia due to the lack of strong laws capable of restricting the activities of radical groups. He added that a legal framework was needed which supported the treatment of terrorism as an extraordinary crime requiring extraordinary measures. Mbai referred to France, where terrorists can be detained for long periods of time since authorities require sufficient time for investigations. Mbai recommended that Law No 15/2003 on terrorism be amended by including additional articles to strengthen and support the role of authorities, such as intelligence agencies. He said there was no need to create a new law since the legislative process in Indonesia was long and complex. Meanwhile, Edy Prasetyono, a lecturer in international relations at the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, has pointed to the importance of strengthening intelligence agencies and eliminating inter-agency rivalry. Many departments and state agencies have a role in intelligence, including the Department of Home Affairs, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the Attorney-General's Office and immigration. However, these institutions have not been well-integrated. According to Prasetyono, the community is concerned about terrorism, although perhaps this is still limited to when a bombing occurs. Most of the time, the community prioritises economic concerns and other necessities. Prasetyono said that the poor could easily be influenced by terrorist ideology. Meanwhile, the poor state of the resident administration system has also led to problems in the fight against terrorism, as it allows people to create false identities. In relation to this, the Department of Home Affairs has promised to finalise the Resident Administration Information System, one aspect of which involves [the implementation of] a national Resident Identification Number system by 2011. The Head of the Department of Home Affairs' Information Centre, Saut Situmorang, said on 27 July that once the system was in place nationally, each individual would have a single Resident Identification Number, which would be used for passports, driver licenses, tax file numbers, insurance policies, land certificates and other forms of identification. Saut said that all government agencies would be required to use the data from this system. He added that a fingerprint system would also be available to reveal all data pertaining to an individual. Source: Kompas Cyber Media website, Jakarta, in Indonesian 28 Jul 09 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2271 - Release Date: 07/29/09 18:07:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Sydney Morning Herald, July 30, 2009 - Noordin group claims bombings
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/world/noordin-group-claims-bombings-20090729-e1lm.html Noordin group claims bombings Tom Allard Herald Correspondent in Jakarta July 30, 2009 - 10:26AM A MESSAGE posted on the internet and purporting to be from the fugitive terrorist Noordin Mohammed Top has claimed responsibility for the twin hotel bombings in Jakarta, justifying the mass murders as an attack on American interests and labelling the Manchester United football team that was due to book into one of the hotels as ''Crusaders''. The posting, which has not been independently verified, is nonetheless ''plausibly'' from South-East Asia's most-wanted man, the International Crisis Group's Jakarta-based terrorism analyst Sidney Jones said. Dedicating the attacks to Noordin's dead accomplice Azahari Husin, the posting says the attacks targeted ''the head figures of business and intelligence within the US economy'', an indication that the business breakfast at the Marriott that was hit hardest was targeted. ''They have major interests in sucking Indonesia's treasure and financing the US Army to fight against Muslims and Islam,'' it said. Three Australians attending the meeting - Nathan Verity, Craig Senger and Garth McEvoy - died in the attacks. The posting also refers to the Manchester United football team that was due to check into the Ritz-Carlton the day after the bombings. They abandoned their planned game against an Indonesian team as a result of the bombings. The players in the teams were ''salibis'', or Christian crusaders, and unworthy of the support or respect of Muslims. A police spokesman, Sulistyo Ishak, said police were investigating the posting, which carried Noordin's name at the end and mentioned the organisation Al-Qaeda in Indonesia. Ms Jones, the world's leading authority on Indonesian terrorist cells said: ''I think it's plausible. What makes it plausible is he names the martyrdom operations after the two men who were closest to him in 2005, Azhari and Jabir.'' Ms Jones also said the posting quoted the usual excerpts from the Koran exploited by terrorists to justify their cause. Whether the reasons given for the attack predated the bombings, or were just concocted after the attacks occurred and the victims became known, remains uncertain. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Marriott International, the group which operates the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, said both hotels re-opened yesterday amid heightened security measures. The reopening less than two weeks after the blasts reflects the lack of serious structural damage caused by the attacks. Only those areas directly hit by the bombs - a lounge at the Marriott and a restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton - remain off limits to guests. ''We have resumed our normal business operations today,'' the spokeswoman told Agence France-Presse. ''We hope to be able to reach an average hotel occupancy of 60 to 70 per cent like before, in spite of the bombings.'' This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/world/noordin-group-claims-bombings-20090729-e1lm.html -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.35/2271 - Release Date: 07/29/09 18:07:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912091,00.html?xid=newsletter-asia-weekly , Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 - Can Sufism Defuse Terrorism?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1912091,00.html?xid=newsletter -asia-weekly . http://www.time.com/time http://img.timeinc.net/time/i/logo_time_print.gif Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 Can Sufism Defuse Terrorism? By Ishaan Tharoor In recent years, the dominant image of Islam in the minds of many Westerners has been one loaded with violence and shrouded with fear. The figures commanding global attention - be they al-Qaeda's leadership or certain mullahs in Tehran - preach an apocalyptic creed to an uncompromising faithful. This may be the Islam of a radical fringe, but in an era of flag burnings and suicide bombings, it is the Islam of the moment. And that is why some lament the decline of another, older Islam, an Islam of openness and tolerance and, most important, peace. For centuries, many of the world's Muslims were, in one way or another, practitioners of Sufism, a spiritualism that centers on the mystical connection between the individual and the divine. Sufism's ethos was egalitarian, charitable and friendly, often propagated by wandering seers and storytellers. It blended with local cultures and cemented Islam's place from the deserts of North Africa to the bazaars of the Indian subcontinent. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1625696,00.html (Read An Islam of Many Paths.) Yet amid the hurly-burly of 19th century empires and the rise of modern nation-states, Sufism lost ground. The fall of Islam's traditional powers - imperial dynasties such as the Mughals and the Ottomans - created a hunger for a more anchoring, muscular religious identity than that found in the intoxicating whirl of a dervish or the quiet wisdom of a sage. Nationalism and fundamentalism subdued Sufism's eclectic spirit. If considered at all now in the West, Sufism usually provokes paeans to an alternative, ascetic life, backed up perhaps by a few verses from Rumi, a medieval Sufi poet much cherished by New Age spiritualists. But there was nothing fringe or alternative about it. In many places, Sufism was a commonsense language - the way whole populations expressed their Muslim identity, says Faisal Devji, an expert on political Islam at Oxford University. In South Asia, Sufism was the norm. Some analysts think that historical legacy can still be exploited. A 2007 report by the Rand Corp., a U.S. think tank, advised Western governments to harness Sufism, saying its adherents were natural allies of the West. Along similar lines, the Algerian government announced this month that it would promote the nation's Sufi heritage in a bid to check the powerful influence of Salafism, a more purist, orthodox strain of Islam that is followed by al-Qaeda-backed militants waging a long-running war against the country's autocratic state. The authorities now want to promote traditional Sufi brotherhoods on radio and television. But while Sufism is no doubt fascinating in its diversity and complexity, can it really bend terrorist swords into plowshares? The question is most urgent in South Asia, home to more than a third of the world's Muslims and the historic cradle of Sufi Islam. Shrines of Sufi saints are ubiquitous in India and Pakistan and still attract thousands of devotees from all sectors of society. Yet the Taliban in Pakistan have set about destroying such sites, which are anathema to their literalist interpretation of the Koran. Despite our ancient religious tradition, says Ayeda Naqvi, a writer and Sufi scholar from Lahore, we are being bullied and intimidated by a new form of religion that is barely one generation old. http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/23121/taliban-oppression-and-res istance (See pictures of the Taliban on LIFE.com.) Still, she and other academics are wary of any government using Sufism to fight its political battles. As in the past, foreign meddling would likely do more harm than good. What is needed today, more than the West pushing any one form of religion, says Naqvi, is a propagation of the underlying values of Sufism - love, harmony and beauty. There is no easy way to achieve this, especially in Pakistan, where poverty, corruption and the daily toll of the global war on terrorism simmer together in a volatile brew. Set against this, the transcendental faith of Sufi mystics seems quaint, if not entirely impotent. But there is more to the allure of Sufism than its saints and sheiks. In 2001, one of the first things to happen after the Taliban were chased out of Kabul was that the doors of the Afghan capital's Bollywood cinemas flung open to the public. The language of cosmic love and yearning that animates all Bollywood music and enchants millions of Muslims around the world, even if sung and acted out by non-Muslims, is a direct legacy of centuries of Sufi devotional poetry. At Sufism's core, suggests Oxford University's Devji, is an embrace of the world. It allows you to identify beyond your mosque and village to something that can be both Islamic and
[wanita-muslimah] The Australian, July 27, 2009 - Lesson today is hatred as Bashir cultivates bombers' breeding ground
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25838122-25837,00.html Lesson today is hatred as Bashir cultivates bombers' breeding ground Paul Toohey | July 27, 2009 Article from: The Australian http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/ THE term formative years was made very real in Jakarta earlier this month. One of the suicide bombers at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels was only 16 or 17 years of age. Teenage suicide bombers have been common in Iraq and Afghanistan, but until now have not featured in attacks on Australia's doorstep. Just as it makes sinister sense to explode bombs from within the walls of hotels, rather than from the outside, it also makes sense to infiltrate the minds of boys and send them to their deaths before they reach an age where they might ask deeper questions of themselves. The boy, who was accompanied by a 20-year-old on the mission to bomb the Jakarta hotels, was almost certainly a high school student recruited from one of the 14,000 Indonesian Islamic schools known as pesantren. Abu Bakar Bashir is the man who offers spiritual guidance to the most extremist network of pesantren. His headquarters are the al-Mukmin school in Solo, central Java, from where at least 15 students have graduated to committing acts of terror across region. Bashir is an ultra-conservative Wahhabist who believes it is permissible to kill infidels. He wanders through Java preaching his anti-Western and anti-Indonesian government hatred. There are 2000 impressionable students at al-Mukmin who routinely receive his counsel, and many thousands more within his pesantren network. Despite being jailed for inciting terrorism with treasonous statements, Bashir openly continues to endorse terror attacks on kafirs (infidels). Speaking from his school last week, he blamed the CIA and Australia for the July 17 attacks and then, in the same breath, said the two suicide bombers were right to kill kafirs if they had ever entertained thoughts against Islam. Bashir also endorsed Noordin Mohammad Top, who is still wanted for organising the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2003 Marriott bombing and the 2004 Australian embassy attack. Some argue whether Bashir still heads Jemaah Islamiah, or has started another group. The distinction matters not to the families of the victims of the latest bombings. Terror has re-emerged after a short hibernation and it is a perverse reflection of Indonesia's tolerant new democracy that Bashir is permitted to continue preaching violence. Former foreign minister Alexander Downer introduced an AusAid program after the 2002 Bali bombings that aimed to instil moderation into pesantren through modernisation. Downer says the thinking was that parents were sending their children to the schools, where two to three million students are enrolled at any time, not necessarily because they were religious extremists, but because the schools were so readily available. He says Australia funds religious schools domestically, including Islamic schools, and it might be a way to encourage tolerance. The problem with the schools is the curriculum is very narrow, Downer says. They focus on religious education and not much else. People come out of those schools being great experts on the Koran, but they don't have knowledge of arithmetic, geography, language and physics. It's hard for them to get jobs and they get swept into this world of fundamentalist religion. An expert on Indonesian extremism, Holland Taylor, does not quarrel with Australia funding the pesantren, but warns an education can be a dangerous thing. He is the chief executive of the Jakarta-based LibForAll Foundation, which he co-founded with former president, Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), to discredit the ideology of religious hatred in Indonesia. Modernisation will not produce moderation, says Taylor. As a matter of fact, it's very often Muslims with the most modern educations who have the capability of committing the violent acts. They use the education they have to radicalise their fellow members of society. So it was with the engineer Azahari Husin, who studied for four years at the University of Adelaide and went on, under the direction of Top and with the blessing of Bashir, to make and oversee the delivery of the 2002 Bali bombs and the 2003 Marriott bomb, and more. Taylor says there are three different kinds of pesantren in Indonesia. There is the pluralist, moderate kind which Gus Dur has worked hard to promote through the largest Muslim organisation in the world, Nahdlatul Ulama. There are also 10,000 pesantren run by the Muhammadiyah, the world's second-largest Muslim organisation. The Muhammadiyah are overwhelmingly infiltrated by extremists - not terrorists, but extremists - who anathematise Australia, America and the secular system of Indonesia, Taylor says. The Muhammadiyah is in the throes of bitter quarrels over its growing hardline membership and he says that Australia must monitor the
[wanita-muslimah] Asia Times, July 29, 2009 - What made Jakarta suicide bombers tick
http://atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KG29Ae01.html http://www.atimes.com What made Jakarta suicide bombers tick By John McBeth JAKARTA - Despite skepticism that a business breakfast was always the primary target, there is one indisputable fact about the July 17 attacks on Jakarta's Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels: not since the 2002 Bali bombing have so many foreigners been killed in such a focused way. That is clearly no coincidence, given the level of planning that went into the bombings and the premium that Malaysian-born terrorist masterminds Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohammad Top have always placed on killing Western businessmen in particular. An extensive planning blueprint for the second October 2005 Bali bombing, downloaded off Azahari's laptop after he was killed in a police shootout in East Java a month later, said bluntly: The deaths of foreign businessmen will have a greater impact than those of young people. Noordin, who is widely suspected to be behind the latest attacks, never had an active role in the 2002 Bali bombing, which killed 202 people, many of them young foreign tourists. Azahari was only brought in at the last minute to help iron out imperfections in the massive bomb that devastated the Sari nightclub on the resort island. In the October 2003 car-bombing of the Marriott Hotel, in which both Noordin and Azahari were involved, a Dutch banker, a Dane and two Chinese tourists were among the 12 victims. But all 10 killed in the 2004 Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta were Indonesians; if the conspirators had chosen early morning or lunch-time to carry out the attack, Australians no doubt would have died too. In the second Bali bombing, the blueprint points to a much more concerted effort to kill foreigners, again with Western businessmen perceived to be among tourists targeted at two popular Jimbaran seafood restaurants. Even then, only five foreigners were among the 20 people killed there and at a Kuta cafe some distance away. It may not be the last time Bali is targeted because of the unusually large percentage of overseas visitors and the headlines the two bombings created around the world. As the 2005 document notes: A mass attack on the enemy is more possible there than elsewhere in Indonesia. An International Crisis Group (ICG) report notes that a statement posted on a radical website after the latest bombings referred to the hotels as the center of Jewish business activity in Jakarta and went on to discuss how arousing fear in the enemy is justified in the ongoing war between Muslims and infidels. A subsequent posting entitled Why was the Marriott bombed? picked up on this theme, asserting: In Palestine Jews suffer and feel they are in hell because every day they are the target of attacks and operations. But Jews never feel worried about Muslim demonstrations in London or Jakarta. The ICG's Jakarta-based terrorism expert, Sidney Jones, believes the bombers returned to a hotel they had already attacked because it was the best way to prove they could still attack - and that any place in the capital was vulnerable. In that, they succeeded, exposing embarrassing holes in the security of what had been touted as one of Jakarta's safest hotels. Jones says one key question for the police to answer is how the relatively expensive operation was funded. It is possible the money was raised locally, either through donors or armed robberies, as it was for the 2005 Bali bombing. But there are also suspicions it may have come from South Asia, raising the specter of renewed linkages to al-Qaeda or its affiliates. Tactical debate There is still a great deal of debate over whether the militants originally planned to bomb the popular breakfast buffet at the Marriott's expansive Sailendra coffee shop, given the similar location of the other blast in the Ritz Carlton, which lies 50 meters away across the street. In fact, for the first two or three days, most news reports erroneously pinpointed the coffee shop as the scene of the attack, when it actually took place in a quiet lounge at the other end of the Marriott lobby where American consultant James Castle was hosting a weekly business breakfast for 17 of his clients. If the restaurant was the original target, then it was probably changed during what may have been weeks of surveillance in which the watchers almost certainly would have noticed the meetings Castle, a long-standing Indonesian resident, held every Friday morning. One compelling reason may have been to minimize Indonesian casualties, which would have been high in a coffee shop full of Indonesian staff and Indonesian patrons. The lounge was a much more inviting target with its long table full of foreign executives and more confined space. In the end, the Ritz Carlton bombing merely served to double the impact more than anything else. In fact, the coffee shop was only sparsely populated and while it is too early to draw any solid
[wanita-muslimah] July 26 (AFP) -- Married life and schools a refuge for Indonesia bombers
Married life and schools a refuge for Indonesia bombers Aubrey Belford July 26 (AFP) -- The return of deadly suicide bombings to Indonesia's capital after years of quiet has turned attention on a complex web of schools and marriages that provide militants with succour and recruits. Authorities have been under pressure to explain how suspected Islamists linked to the radical Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network managed undetected to carry out double suicide bombings in Jakarta hotels that killed seven people, the first major attack since 2005. Most astounding has been how close police appeared to be to catching Noordin Mohammed Top, the Malaysian extremist who leads a violent JI splinter faction believed to be behind the bombings. A raid on a reported Noordin hideout in a bucolic Javanese village just days before the attacks turned up bombs identical to those used in Jakarta, police have said. The raid also turned up something less usual for one of Asia's most wanted men: a new wife and two young children, they said. Noordin's married life on the run is typical of how JI is held together by strong social bonds forged largely through schools and marriage, International Crisis Group analyst Sidney Jones said. These bonds mean militants in Noordin's network can evade capture, despite the fact that the majority of JI disapprove of spectacular and bloody militant attacks on foreigners, Jones said. I think there has always been a sense that family alliances are a key element that preserves the unity of the network, she said. There is no question that when you marry into a family you add another layer of protection. There are around 50 schools in Indonesia with some link to JI, Jones said, providing a pool of recruits -- as well as the husbands and wives that have kept generations of JI families together. The most famous of these schools, the al-Mukmin Islamic boarding school in the Central Java city of Solo, was visited by police within days of the latest attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. Nur Hasbi, a close associate of Noordin being sought by police over the bombings, is a member of the school's infamous class of 1995, Jones said. Asmar Latin Sani, who blew himself up in a 2003 attack on the Marriott also allegedly planned by Noordin, was a member of the class. So was Muhammad Rais, who was jailed over the first Marriott attack and whose sister is Noordin's first wife. The school's co-founder, firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, continues to preach hatred for the West and denies any link between the school and the latest attack. It was a deed of the CIA. As with the Bali bombs, the CIA rode on the backs of holy warriors who planned for jihad, he told AFP. Former JI militant Nasir Abas said that even if Bashir's school was now closely watched by police, many others with JI links were available to provide refuge -- and young recruits -- to Noordin. Almost all schools have a small part, a small percentage, of people who agree with Noordin, so this is how he moves around, Abas said. One of the two unidentified suicide bombers, who police estimate is 16-17 years old, was likely recruited by Noordin from the alumni of a JI-linked school, Abas said. I belive he is not recruiting inside the schools, but is recruiting from graduates of the schools, said Abas, whose brother-in-law Mukhlas was one of three JI members executed last year for 2002 bombings on Bali that killed 202 people. I think this suicide bomber was a young person in high spirits who followed someone who called him a mujahid (holy warrior). The government has won praise for arresting hundreds of dangerous JI members and using deradicalisation programmes to convince others to reject violence. But al-Mukmin alumnus Noor Huda Ismail said this approach could do nothing to break kinship bonds and the culture of protection that allows hardcore extremists like Noordin to continue to wreak havoc. In Islam there is an obligation (for a guest), even though they have done something wrong, they have to be protected for three days, said a former JI militant, who refused to be named. For example, with Osama bin Laden, America was after him... but the Taliban looked after him. If I were able to tell Noordin to go, I'd tell him to go, but I wouldn't hand him over to the police. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.32/2266 - Release Date: 07/27/09 05:58:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, July 24 2009 - Special Report: Negligence cripples fight against terrorism
Source URL: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/07/24/special-report-negligence-crip ples-fight-against-terrorism.html http://www.thejakartapost.com/jakartapost_logo.jpg Published on The Jakarta Post (http://www.thejakartapost.com) Special Report: Negligence cripples fight against terrorism , ,| Fri, 07/24/2009 1:56 PM | National The recent bombings of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta were an ominous reminder that terrorists still view Indonesia as a prime regional location for launching attacks against their *enemies'. The Jakarta Post's Rendi A. Witular and Lilian Budianto explore the problems still facing Indonesian security forces as they come to grips with the fact that the threat of terrorism is far from over. Despite encountering similar problems during his posting as chief political and security minister, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono seems to have lacking sense of urgency to immediately bring together various law enforcement and intelligence bodies under one unified and sustainable counterterror measure. Since the 2002 Bali bombing, Indonesia's counterterrorism measures have largely been dependant on an ad hoc covert operation run by an unofficial police terrorist surveillance unit, Satgas Anti-Terror. Run by less than 50 personnel taken from a range of police divisions, and unofficially coordinated by senior terrorist expert Comr. Gen. Goris Mere, Satgas is the only surveillance and intelligence unit working in the field to persistently track down terrorist networks across the country. Intelligence gathered by Satgas is then forwarded to the police's counterterror unit Detachment 88 for further investigation. Aside from Satgas, there is still no specific office that works to prevent terrorism by coordinating various resources at the security and defense agencies. It's not surprising that such partial and unsustainable measures for combating terrorist threats have led to the failure of the intelligence community in preventing terrorist attacks, said former police Bambang Widodo Umar, who is also a lecturer at a higher education institute for police officers (PTIK). The police are basically working alone without receiving any support from other intelligence agencies, said Bambang. Questions have been raised over the function of other Indonesian intelligence units, notably the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), and what role they actually play assisting Satgas and the police in tracking down terrorists. There are several other institutions involved in counterterrorism efforts as well, including the Counterterrorism Desk at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, the military's Intelligence Strategic Agency (BAIS), the Attorney General Office's counterterror unit and the military's three counterterror squads. However, because these intelligence units do not operate under the guide of a single specific agency, communication between the organizations is poor and their efforts uncoordinated. Existing regulations on combating terrorism require the government to expand the function of the Counterterror Desk and transform it into a special Counterterror Agency. The proposed agency should have the full authority to launch crackdowns on terrorist sanctuaries and coordinate sustainable intelligence gathering for preventive measures. In February 2007, the House of Representatives' Commission I for defense and security affairs officially called for the President to immediately form such agency. The Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, has formulated a draft regulation for the creation of the agency, which has been waiting for approval from the President ever since. Despite this, the Counterterror Desk, which is supposed to manage and coordinate intelligence data, remains powerless and tucked away in a corner of the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs. The Desk is supposed to coordinate the functioning of counterterrorist operations, but frankly speaking, it becomes difficult if we ever want to coordinate *with other departments*, said the desk head, Ansyaad Mbai. It is crucial that we form this Counterterror Agency immediately in order to establish who is actually in charge of coordinating preventive measures, managing the crisis, and pooling together all resources from the military, police, and even hospital and fire departments. The police and the Counterterror Desk have cited difficulties when trying to gain access to intelligence data from the Indonesian Military (TNI) intelligence, which experts claim is the best in the country. TNI spokesman Rear Air Marshal Sagom Tamboen said military intelligence, notably gathered by BAIS, was mostly related to defense matters, not security. However, in order to pass any intelligence information from BAIS onto the police, BIN or Counterterror Desk, he claimed the
[wanita-muslimah] Financial Times, July 20 2009 03:00 - Yudhoyono criticised in crisis
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9adc94f4-74c3-11de-8ad5-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_c heck=1 Financial Times FT.com FT.com logo http://media.ft.com/t.gif http://media.ft.com/t.gifAsia-Pacific Yudhoyono criticised in crisis By John Aglionby in Jakarta Published: July 20 2009 03:00 | Last updated: July 20 2009 03:00 Indonesian police are confident that Jemaah Islamiah, the regional Islamist terrorist group, carried out last week's double suicide bombing in two Jakarta luxury hotels as concern mounted at President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's management of the crisis. Nanan Soekarna, police inspector-general, said yesterday that investigators were almost certain militants under Noordin Top, a former JI military chief who is believed to run a terrorist cell, perpetrated Friday's bombings of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. The clues are still being pieced together but they're pointing in that direction, he said. Once we've identified the bombers' bodies, we'll be able to reach a clear conclusion. Referring to the Bali attacks in 2002 and 2005, and bomb equipment found in recent police raids in central Java, he added: The method, the equipment used is the same as both bombs in Bali and the one found in Cilacap. JI was al-Qaeda's main south-east Asian affiliate. But it has become fractured by leadership divisions and the arrest of hundreds of militants. Three Australians and a New Zealander who were at a networking breakfast at the Marriott hotel were among the seven fatalities apart from the bombers. Speculation is mounting that the Marriott suicide bomber was Nur Hasbi, who was in the same school class as Asmar Latin Sani, the suicide bomber in a previous attack on the Jakarta Marriott in 2003. Sidney Jones, a JI expert with the International Crisis Group think-tank, said: If it's Nur Hasbi, then that would clinch that this is the Noordin network. Mr Noordin is believed to have been a central JI figure for years. The school Mr Nur Hasbi and Mr Asmar attended was the Ngruki Islamic boarding school run by Abu Bakar Bashir, JI's co-founder and former spiritual leader. Politicians and diplomats say Mr Yudhoyono's judgment must be questioned after the president on Friday made an emotional speech that implicated his opponents in the attacks and warned of a campaign to destabilise the nation. Fuad Bawazier, aide to Jusuf Kalla in the vicepresident's attempt to win this month's presidential election, said Mr Yudhoyono should not have made the comments. It didn't create calm. Rather, it was accusatory speculation all over the place, he said after visiting a hospital where some of the 53 injured in the bombings are being treated. Some diplomats said the speech revealed a worrying side to Mr Yudhoyono. We always knew he was thin-skinned but this shows he's highly emotional and maybe unreliable in a crisis, one said. If I were a foreign investor, I'd be more worried about the speech than the bombings. Copyright http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009 FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/privacy Privacy policy | http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/terms Terms C Copyright http://www.ft.com/servicestools/help/copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2009. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.392 / Virus Database: 270.13.21/2252 - Release Date: 07/21/09 05:58:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Jakarta Globe, June 30,2009 - Poor Families Should Not ' Waste' Aid on Smoking
June 30, 2009 Nurfika Osman A garbage collector smoking a cigarette while working at the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG) A garbage collector smoking a cigarette while working at the Bantar Gebang landfill in Bekasi, West Java. (Photo: Yudhi Sukma Wijaya, JG) Poor Families Should Not 'Waste' Aid on Smoking Direct government cash aid given to poor families is counterproductive as more than half of the money is spent on cigarettes, according to the Indonesian Consumers Foundation. Tulus Abadi, the operational manager of the foundation, also known as the YLKI, said on Tuesday that the government should only distribute the assistance, known as BLT, to nonsmoking families. Not smoking should be one of the conditions for the families to receive the funds, Tulus said. Otherwise, they will keep on spending their money on cigarettes, he added. According to the 2007 National Socioeconomic Survey (Susenas), 12 million out of 19 million poor families in rural areas who received BLT spent Rp 52,000 ($5) monthly on cigarettes. Families eligible for the BLT program receive Rp 100,000 each month in direct cash assistance. Tulus said that nationally, poor families in villages spent 14 percent of their total income on cigarettes, the second-highest expenditure after food, at 19 percent. Another survey conducted by Susenas in 2008 found that in large cities across the country, poor families spent 22 percent of their income on cigarettes while 19 percent was allocated for food. Tulus said the BLT program would not ease poverty because the money was being spent on the wrong things. Instead of spending the aid on education and food, they [poor families] spend it on cigarettes and it does not help them at all, he said. Last month, Farid Anfasa Moeloek, former head of the Indonesian Doctors Association and a former health minister, said Indonesia was facing a potential lost generation because money was being allocated to cigarettes instead of food in households where the father was a smoker. Research conducted by the School of Public Health at the University of Indonesia in 2007 showed that 44 percent of babies in West Nusa Tenggara and 41 percent in East Nusa Tenggara suffered from malnutrition. The study found that many of the infants suffered from malnutrition because 71.4 percent of fathers in West Nusa Tenggara and 61.9 percent in East Nusa Tenggara were active smokers. Tulus said Unicef data showed that of the 162,000 infants in the country who died in 2006, 32,400 deaths were due to malnutrition and were linked to having a smoker in the family. In 2004, Indonesia joined 167 countries in signing the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but is one of only four nations yet to ratify the treaty. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] Reuters, Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:14pm EDT - Will two flus mix in Indonesia? Experts worry
http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/logo_reuters_media_us.gif http://www.reuters.com/resources/images/spacer.gif Print javascript:window.print(); | Close this window javascript:%20window.close(); Will two flus mix in Indonesia? Experts worry Mon Jun 29, 2009 4:14pm EDT * H5N1 circulates freely in Indonesia * Flu viruses cause more deaths in poorer countries By Olivia Rondonuwu JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's first cases of the new H1N1 flu have raised concerns that if the virus spreads it could combine with the entrenched and deadly H5N1 avian influenza to create a more lethal strain of flu. Even if this worst-case scenario did not occur, experts say populous, developing countries such as Indonesia, India or Egypt, where healthcare systems can be rudimentary, will suffer more deaths from the new virus. Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari, who confirmed six new H1N1 cases on Sunday, said she was concerned about H1N1, widely known as swine flu, marrying with H5N1 avian flu. Influenza viruses not only mutate quickly and unpredictably, but they can swap genes, especially if a person or animal becomes infected with two strains at once. The new H1N1 strain is itself a mixture of various strains, genetic tests show. H5N1 bird flu has been circulating in Asia for years and has hit Indonesia harder than any other country. Although it only rarely infects people, it has killed 262 out of 433 infected globally since 2003, with 141 of those cases in Indonesia. We are scared because we are the warehouse of the world's most virulent H5N1, Supari said. I am worried if the viruses encounter each other in the field, C.A. Nidom, the head of the Avian Influenza lab at Airlangga University in Surabaya, said. The World Health Organization declared a pandemic of H1N1 swine flu earlier this month and said the virus causes a moderately severe flu, spreading very easily from person to person. H5N1 spreads mostly from a bird to a person and stops there, but is far deadlier. The mortality rate for H1N1 is 0.2 percent, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine, while for H5N1 it is just over 60 percent. SERIOUS THREAT Scientists say usually as a virus becomes more transmissible from one human to another it also becomes less deadly, although this is not guaranteed. But Kamaruddin Zarkasie of Indonesia's Bogor Agriculture University said he felt the risk the two viruses might combine was only a random possibility. Even if they do not, H1N1 may be a serious threat, other experts said. Ben Cowling, public health expert at the University of Hong Kong, said people with serious infections who would be admitted to hospitals in developed countries and survive might die in poorer countries. It would be reasonable to say the mortality rate in underdeveloped settings is likely to be more comparable to the ICU (admission) rate in developed settings, or five times higher than the mortality rate in developed settings, Cowling said. In poorer parts of India and China ... people are nutritionally less able to fight infection and they don't have the drugs that we have in major cities, said Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the University of Sydney's National Center for Immunization Research Surveillance. H1N1 has killed more than 300 people and there have been at least 67,000 confirmed cases worldwide. (Additional reporting by Karima Anjani and Tan Ee Lyn in Hong Kong; Editing by Ed Davies and Maggie Fox) C Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. Users may download and print extracts of content from this website for their own personal and non-commercial use only. Republication or redistribution of Thomson Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters and its logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Thomson Reuters group of companies around the world. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.0/2209 - Release Date: 06/29/09 14:43:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Saturday, June 27, 2009 - Bahtiar Effendy, Champion Of Democracy
The Jakarta Post, Saturday, June 27, 2009 Bahtiar Effendy, Champion Of Democracy Anissa S. Febrina , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta For Indonesia's political insiders, the past 12 years have been a honeymoon period for democracy - time to get to know each other and enjoy the perks of the process. Enough already, says Islamic scholar and political observer Bahtiar Effendy - it's time to get to the core of things. People have to remember that democracy is only a means and not an end, he says. What we call democracy in our country today is still merely procedural. Bahtiar, a lecturer at Jakarta's Syarif Hidayatullah state Islamic university who is today being inaugurated as Professor of Politics at the university, has been keeping a close eye on the state of democracy in Indonesia since the beginning of the reform. Born and raised in Ambarawa, Central Java, Bahtiar attended formal school in the morning and Islamic school in the afternoon. He went on to study in an Islamic boarding school in Muntilan, Central Java, before attending Syarif Hidayatullah state Islamic university. There and afterward, his interest in politics - and his concerns about Indonesian democracy - deepened. The scholar's biggest concern about the current state of democracy in Indonesia is that it has become too fluid to be considered high quality or to have adequate depth and substance. In short, [the practice] of democracy should not neglect the main purpose of running a state: stability, security and socioeconomic comfort for all, he says. Bahtiar's understanding of the kind of democracy that fits Indonesian culture is probably the result of a mixture of his Islamic education and the advanced degrees in politics and Southeast Asian studies he gained in the United States. This education also shaped him as the open-minded Muslim scholar that he is, to the extent he has been labeled a secular one, but they label me without actually knowing who I really am. Claiming to be a conservative in the sense that he believes in the role of the state in leading the lives of many, Bahtiar points out that the country still lacks a structured institution that is strong enough to manage differing and even often clashing interests. We're not serious enough in actually building a state, a government consistent enough to focus on strengthening our chosen presidential system that emphasizes order, to be able to truly develop, Bahtiar says. Bahtiar believes that Indonesia has still not achieved governance that can manage conflicting interests and differences through a system that everyone agrees on. With the collapse of the authoritarian Soeharto regime, a wave of euphoria over freedom of expression and political participation swept the country and persists to this day. But, as Bahtiar puts it, democracy appears only on the surface, with power sharing still taking place through pragmatic politics. What is negotiated in parliament, for example, is not aimed at building a better system, but at creating one that would allow room for power sharing. For everyone to get a piece of the pie, he says. He offers the inconsistency behind the Election Law as a clear example, pointing out that, as the loose political party system means no single party can dominate the arena, any elected president must continue to share power to survive. Even if we claim to have a presidential system, the president still has to compromise in choosing people to serve in the Cabinet for the sake of accommodating the interests of parties that joined the coalition that supports him, the 50-year-old professor says. Theoretically, the parliamentary system is the ideal practice of democracy. But if we consider our culture, our ways and traditions in doing politics, the presidential system fits better. And we should focus on building the capacity to strengthen that system. But, as has so often happened in this country, what is on paper rarely reflects reality. For Bahtiar, Indonesia is an anomaly, always a hybrid of two different systems in running a state. It's presidential but partly parliamentary. It's not a federal state but comes close to one in practice. He believes that these aspects probably come from placing democratic procedures on a pedestal without actually getting to the essence of the ideology. Talking about decentralization, for example: There is no clear structure of relations between the central government and local ones, he says. If the provincial government is meant only to manage cross-municipal issues and be a representative of the central government, then what's the point of directly electing governors? Historically, Bahtiar recalls, the country has clearly chosen a path toward democracy, despite having experimented - and failed - with its early attempt at the system. Nowadays, we already have basic prerequisites to actually build a resilient and sustainable government through
[wanita-muslimah] The Age, Sunday, June 28, 2009 - Aussie Spy Data Points to Papua Murder Cover-Up
The Age, Sunday, June 28, 2009 Aussie Spy Data Points to Papua Murder Cover-Up by Tom Hyland NEW details of secret Australian surveillance of Indonesia's Papua province have emerged, revealing that Australian officials believed Indonesian military weapons were used in the murder of two US citizens. Documents show the officials told US diplomats within hours of the 2002 shooting that automatic Steyr rifles were used. The US State Department documents show the Australians passed on the information on August 31, 2002 - the day the two US school teachers and an Indonesian colleague were shot dead. They were ambushed on an isolated road near the giant US-owned Freeport-McMoRan gold and copper mine, where the three worked. The heavily censored documents were obtained under freedom of information by US researchers, who say they show Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stalled US efforts to allow the FBI to investigate the killings. Pro-independence guerillas were blamed, but human rights groups have long accused the Indonesian military of involvement - a suspicion initially shared by Indonesian police. The US documents provide the latest insight into Australia's close knowledge of events surrounding the shootings. Two months after the ambush, Australian spy agencies were reported to have given the US intelligence relating to a planned military attack on the Freeport mine, designed to discredit the pro-independence Free Papua Movement (OPM). And last year, The Sunday Age revealed Australian government officials imposed extraordinary secrecy when eight wounded survivors of the ambush were flown to Townsville Hospital. The newly obtained documents are further evidence of a cover-up surrounding the ambush, says Eben Kirskey of the University of California who has researched the killings. The documents include a cable written on the day of the ambush by the US embassy in Jakarta and sent to the State Department in Washington and US embassy in Canberra. It reveals officials at the mine were reluctant to blame OPM guerillas for attacking the teachers, who were specifically and deliberately targeted. The cable continues: There are reports from Australian sources close to provincial police that the automatic weapons used in the attack were manufactured by Steyr, a weapon not typically used by the OPM in the past, though (it) is a common make in Indonesian security force inventories in the province. Indonesian police ballistics experts later identified three types of military weapons used in the shooting, including M16s, which fire the same cartridge as the Steyr. The embassy cable posed three possible explanations for the attack: the OPM had abandoned its practice of not targeting foreigners; the attack was carried out by some rogue security force; or it was a terrorist attack - an option the cable ruled out. Documents obtained by Dr Kirskey and Indonesian journalist Andreas Harsono last year revealed the extent of Australian secrecy when the survivors of the attack arrived in Townsville the next day. The survivors were barred from calling relatives for almost two days and from talking about the identity of their attackers. Australian police imposed extraordinary security on the hospital, while US diplomats took the unusual step of asking an Australian military officer to check on the condition of the patients. Separate inquiries published by The Sunday Age last September disclosed unidentified government officials effectively took charge of non-medical operations at the hospital, under a directive issued at high government level. Two months after the shooting, The Washington Post reported that US officials had obtained information showing Indonesian military officers had discussed an operation against Freeport before the ambush, aimed at discrediting the OPM so the US would declare it a terrorist organisation. The information included details of a conversation secretly intercepted by an Australian agency - likely to be the top-secret Defence Signals Directorate, which monitors mobile phone, radio and internet messages. The new documents show President Yudhoyono stalled in the face of US pressure to allow the FBI to investigate the killings, which Indonesian police initially blamed on the military. In 2006, seven men were sentenced over the killings, including alleged ringleader Antonius Wamang, who received a life term. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.12.93/2206 - Release Date: 06/27/09 17:55:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] FW: [ASEANPlus3 EID] News Flash Summary for Wednesday, 24 June 2009
From: ASEAN+3 EID Info [mailto:eidi...@aseanplus3-eid.info] Sent: Wednesday, 24 June, 2009 16:51 To: dharmawan.ronodip...@gmail.com Subject: [ASEANPlus3 EID] News Flash Summary for Wednesday, 24 June 2009 Dear Dharmawan Ronodipuro: This is news flash summary for Wednesday, 24 June 2009 from the Information Centre on Emerging Infectious Diseases in the ASEAN Plus Three Countries (www.aseanplus3-eid.info) website. Cambodia confirms first case of A/H1N1 virus Wednesday, 24 June 2009; Submitted By: Administrator PHNOM PENH, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's first case of the Influenza A/H1N1 virus was confirmed by the Cambodian National Influenza Centre (NIC) on Tuesday, a joint statement released on Wednesday by the Cambodian Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The infected person was a 16-year-old U.S. citizen who visited the country on June 19 as part of a student group, it said, adding that she developed symptoms the following day and sought medical care at a private clinic on Monday. A sample was collected from the patient and sent to the NIC which was confirmed positive on Tuesday, according to the statement. She is now kept in isolation. The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the situation very closely and keep the public well informed of any updates as they occur, the statement added. Source : Xinhua News http://www.aseanplus3-eid.info/newsread.php?nid=768gid=10 ...Read More Pandemic phase six: what do business continuity managers do next? Wednesday, 24 June 2009; Submitted By: Administrator Many pandemic plans have build in escalation steps which are meant to kick in when a phase six pandemic alert is reached, however given the relatively low virulence of the virus and the current status of infection levels should BC managers reconsider their plans? Continuity Central asked various business continuity experts to give their views... June 19: Updated with new entries John Sharp john.sh...@btinternet.com So now we are at level six and H1N1 is spreading quickly throughout populations. At this point in time those who contract the virus have symptoms similar to a normal bout of ‘winter flu’ and the numbers admitted to hospital and the level of deaths remains low. However we are in the early stages of a pandemic and WHO is watching to see how the virus will mutate over the coming months. There is time therefore for organizations to examine how well their BC plans are coping with the current situation and modify them accordingly. That is assuming they have plans in the first place. The recent Chartered Management Institute’s BCM awareness http://www.aseanplus3-eid.info/newsread.php?nid=767gid=10 ...Read More Vietnam super-flu count reaches fifty-three cases Wednesday, 24 June 2009; Submitted By: Administrator VietNamNet Bridge – As of June 22, 53 cases of A/H1N1 flu have been recorded in Vietnam. A/H1N1 patients are treated at the National Hospital for Tropical and Infectious Diseases in Hanoi. The number of patients has risen quickly in the past few days. On June 21, HCM City had ten new patients. Notably, most of the new patients are Vietnamese students returning from summer holidays in Australia. The first H1N1 flu case in Vietnam was announced on May 31. By June 22, Vietnam recorded 53 cases, including seven who caught the virus in Vietnam from people who returned from other countries. Of the 46 remaining cases, 29 came from America, 13 from Australia, two from Canada, one from the UK and one from Thailand. These patients are being treated in ten provinces and cities. The large majority are in the south, namely HCM City (28 cases), Dong Nai (6), Tien Giang (3), Ben Tre (4), Ba Ria – Vung Tau (3), Vinh Long (2), Can Tho (1) and Soc Trang (1). Hanoi has reported four cases and http://www.aseanplus3-eid.info/newsread.php?nid=766gid=10 ...Read More Malaysia: Influenza A: Student, 19, is first positive case in Johor Wednesday, 24 June 2009; Submitted By: Administrator UPDATE 10.15am: A 19 year-old student who came back from Melbourne Australia two days ago using Singapore Airlines flight SQ0238 via Changi Aiport became the first positive influenza A(H1N1) case in Johor, Head of Women, Family, Social and Health Committee Dr Robiah Kosai said today. EARLIER REPORT: PUTRAJAYA: There will be no blanket closure of schools or a ban on public gatherings for now. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said “social distancing” in the Klang Valley was not needed yet as the closure of four schools after several students came down with influenza A (H1N1) was sufficient. This is because strict preventive and management measures had been put in place. However, this decision may change as a technical committee chaired by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican is meeting today to discuss ways to stop the spread of the virus. Up for discussion is the possibility
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Editorial: Surveying the Surveyors
The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Editorial: Surveying the Surveyors The Jakarta Post In politics, we often hear the expression kingmaker being flung about, in reference to a hugely powerful person who is in a position to influence or manipulate the emergence of a king. From what we are now experiencing in Indonesia, perhaps we can add one more candidate to the list of potential kingmakers: The surveyors. Political scientist Denny J.A. could be soon included on the list. Denny, the holder of a PhD and one of the country's leading surveyors, is now putting his reputation on the line by launching a massive campaign to convince voters that, based on his survey - or his organization's - the presidential election this year will only go to one round, with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Boediono - who Denny or his organization now serves - winning the July 8 poll in a landslide. Denny's statement is perhaps comparable to the pre-election surveys in Iran, which said opposition candidate Mir Hossein Moushavi would win outright by garnering more than 50 percent of the votes. However, the incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the eventual winner in the June 12 election, securing a 63 percent landslide that dwarfed Moushavi's 34 percent. It is very difficult to gauge the impact of Denny's appeal to voters. Will they be persuaded to play along because the prospect of a two-round election is unappealing to them, or because Denny is correct in his assessment? But it is also possible that Denny's tactics could backfire because voters are upset with him. Many people accuse Denny and other pollsters of toying with the public in the name of science, just to please their clients of win over new ones. As polling is relatively a new business here, at least for a while this business will continue to provoke controversy, until we are able to regulate this business adequately to ensure its objectivity and fairness. Denny's claim of a one-round presidential election has drawn criticism from the other candidates. Jusuf Kalla and his running mate Wiranto, and Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Prabowo Subianto, are confident that Denny's claim is totally baseless. As both have their own survey teams, it is not surprising that the two tickets receive far more favorable reports from their own surveyors. Political surveyors are harvesting a windfall from the results of the country's democratization, because in elections, politicians and parties hire them to test the market, to polish their image or to take all necessary measures to lure votes for candidates or parties that have paid the surveyors for their services. In any democracy, the services of pollsters are much needed. What we need to learn is how to make sure they do not manipulate public opinion at the cost of democracy itself. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.374 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Time To Overhaul RI's Public Health System
The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Time To Overhaul RI's Public Health System Salut Muhidin and Jerico Franciscus Pardosi, Brisbane In their campaigns, our three presidential candidates have largely concentrated on economic issues, including macro and micro economics, but we need to remember that the nation is also facing other no less urgent issues such as the health of the population. It is disappointing that so far the three candidates have only focused a little on their health platforms. Many cases have emerged recently relating to issues of public health. For example, the report on food and drinking water poisoning at some schools resulting from hygiene and sanitation issues. Based on the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) research in 2009, catering services were involved in 65 percent of reported cases of food poisoning, followed by small scale food industries (19 percent) and household foods (16 percent). Moreover, malnutrition is still a major issue in Indonesia, even in its capital city, in the Jakarta metropolitan area. Between January and March 2008, there were 34 reported cases of malnutrition, most of which affected children. Common diseases such as dengue fever, tuberculosis, malaria, food poisoning and malnutrition still exist in varying degrees in different provinces. At a national level, according to a ministry of health report in 2007, there were 4.1 million cases related to nutrition and malnutrition issues. Recently, the ministry has begun a malaria elimination program, aiming to eradicate the disease by 2030. It has been more than 50 years since the first malaria elimination program began. However, about 1-2 million people contract malaria each year, resulting in some 100,000 deaths. Eastern Indonesia has made slow progress in reducing the prevalence of malaria and tuberculosis compared to the Java and Bali region. Alongside communicable diseases, Indonesia is also facing non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and hypertension. The 2007 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) conducted by the National Institute of Health Research and Development (BALITBANGKES) indicated that 31.7 percent of Indonesians suffer hypertension (the most common NCD) and 7.2 percent suffer CVD. If we look further, from an international perspective, Indonesian health levels are still below health levels of other South-East Asian countries. This can be seen from basic health indicators, such as Infant Mortality Rates (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). In 2007, Indonesia's IMR was 34 per 1,000 live births, and its MMR was 228 per 100,000 live births (Demographic and Health Survey 2007). Meanwhile, Indonesia's Human Development Index (HDI) ranking was 107th, below Thailand in 78th , Malaysia in 63rd, Vietnam in 105th and the Philippines in 90th. Even though the trends for both indicators are improving, the figures have not changed significantly. In terms of communicable diseases, Indonesia is in the third rank for tuberculosis after India and China. This disease should have been eradicated. A more significant issue is Indonesia's health budget. Health expenditure in Indonesia was equivalent to 2.8 percent of its GDP in 2003 which was considerably less than that of Thailand (3.5 percent) or Malaysia (4.2 percent). And more recently there have been no major changes in these figures. At present, Indonesia's health budget is equivalent to only 3.1 percent of its GDP, which is not enough to cover all needs within the health system. On the other hand, health insurance from both government and private sectors has reached 44.5 percent coverage, which indicates 55.5 percent of the population is still without health insurance. There are several things that should be considered by the government and other sectors regarding public health. First, the low health spending in proportion to the national GDP should be increased because of rapid population growth, poverty alleviation and a future aging population. Second, we need to learn from past population health problems. In 1953, E. Ross Jenney made a report on Public Health in Indonesia. The problems the population faced at that time were malaria, tuberculosis, malnutrition and high infant mortality and maternal mortality rates. What happened after fifty-five years? These problems still exist and become a major health issues affecting the population, especially in the eastern Indonesia. Third, we need to shift the focus of the health platform from curative programs toward promotion and prevention. It is true, the total number of health facilities has increased over the past 50 years, but if the government of Indonesia allocates too much money for curative programs instead of promotion and prevention, this will cause more problems. With less money invested in promotion and prevention programs, many people rely on
[wanita-muslimah] The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - Options For Presidential Election 2009: Jusuf Kalla
The Jakarta Post, Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Options For Presidential Election 2009: Jusuf Kalla Jusuf Wanandi, Jakarta Writing about Jusuf Kalla (JK) in the 2009 presidential election is an encore for me because I wrote an op-ed piece for the Financial Times on the 2004 presidential election. I remember my stance on Jusuf Kalla then was negative because there was popular belief that as a student activist, he was behind the burning of churches in Makassar in 1967. That is how he was branded as being anti-Christian. Kalla inherited the family business that he developed after the demise of his father, Hadji Kalla; and as a businessman he inevitably had to compete with other businessmen, be they Chinese-Indonesian or foreign. It was then that he was branded anti-Chinese and anti-foreign. However, my view of Kalla gradually changed to the positive because what he did in resolving Muslim-Christian conflicts in Maluku (Malino I Agreement) and Poso, Central Sulawesi (Malino II Agreement). He achieved this single-handedly, when he was coordinating minister for the people's welfare during Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidency. He was successful because he had the legitimacy of being an east Indonesian leader. That dispelled my basic distrust of him as being anti-Christian. As Vice President, Kalla showed much-needed leadership and resoluteness in facing Islamic extremism in Indonesia. A case in point was his quick action following the death of key Jamaah Islamiyah activist Dr. Azhari, in Batu, East Java, in November 2005, and the seized propaganda materials and CDs that contained the JI's extreme ideology. Kalla was taken aback by those materials, and took the initiative of calling leaders of Muslim organizations to a meeting at his residence, including very conservative ones, to show them the materials. He demanded of them whether that was the kind of ideology they wanted to see adopted in Indonesia. If not, he challenged them to find ways to win over such ideology. The leaders present made a pledge to counter the extremism in their own ways and to cooperate to prevent the subversion of Islam in Indonesia. As a leader, Kalla has the commitment and authority to exert his influence over Muslim leaders to fight extremist activities. His main achievement was undoubtedly the Aceh peace agreement, which put to an end 23 years of civil war and insurgency. On his own initiative, he began approaching the leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in October 2004, before his move to the vice president's office. The suffering and destruction wreaked by the tsunami in 2006 led Kalla to use it as an impetus to move on with his efforts to seek the final resolution of the Aceh conflict. In addition, he made a lot of efforts to help and support the Papuan quest for special autonomy, although the situation in the province was more complicated, due partly to the tribalism that prevails there. Overall, Kalla has done a lot to support the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono government, especially in the economic field, as agreed by Yudhoyono and Kalla at the outset of the then new government. He is pragmatic in his economic outlook, and as such he has been open enough in his view on globalization, albeit still harboring previous biases and notions as a businessman that Indonesia has to build its national economy. In facing the current economic crisis, government intervention is necessary and should increase. Examples of failures of socialism are still fresh in our mind, and globalization is the main trend in the international economy. The national interest is important, but international relations in a global community are a necessity. Kalla should be able to balance the two aspects of the economy. Another plus is his quick mind and willingness to answer any question. He sometimes blinks and does not think deeply. Some of his answers are gut reactions, especially on issues he does not know very well. He tends to speak very fast and sometimes unclearly, which often causes some misunderstanding. The positive side of Kalla is that he is open and egalitarian in entertaining questions. While his English is adequate for addressing a small group, for dealing with a wider audience, however, he would be better off reading out a prepared text or using a good interpreter. On the anti-Chinese stigmatization that Kalla bears, I believe it is unfounded, as I got to him better through my many discussions with him on various issues. He may sound nationalistic, but he is also open to compromise and is willing to discuss all issues further. Criticism over his and his family's businesses abounds. Kalla should take them in stride because he really understands the problems. While doing business is everybody's right, however, once one is voted into public office one should stop and make sure there is no whiff or smell of conflict of interest between the family and the state. People's trust in clean
