Jafar Umar Thalib

March 22nd, 2007, in News & Issues, by Patung

Jafar Umar Thalib of Laskar Jihad regrets the use of religion by terrorists.

The former commander of Laskar Jihad (Holy Warriors’ Force) says the use of religion as a cover for the activities of terrorists was more of a threat to Indonesia than the Communist Party once had been.

Jafar Umar Thalib
Jafar Umar Thalib

He said Poso and Ambon had become centres for the spreading of radical, violent religious teachings. The radical groups terrorised and used the local people for their own purposes while the majority of Muslims in those areas were forced into supporting the extremist groups.

Most Indonesian Muslims could not accept a violence-based form of Islam, he said, but in the long run it was not impossible that the radicals would win the day by forcing their view on others.

Laskar Jihad
Laskar Jihad.

He made reference to the recent visit by Abu Bakar Bashir to the presidential palace saying that such events were part of an effort to cover up the terrorist campaign. The stated aim of applying Islamic law was also just a cover to win power, he said.

Meanwhile our intelligence expert friend Wawan Purwanto (see Ambon Bomb) said terrorist attacks were easy to predict. They occurred annually, he said, perhaps like birthdays, usually in April. [1]


Tags:

14 Comments on “Jafar Umar Thalib”

  1. Agusto Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 1:19 pm

    So, he admits that there is this “violence-based form of Islam” and “in the long run it was not impossible that the radicals would win the day by forcing their view on others”. How come I never heard of violence-based form of budhism, Hinduism or Christianity and how could the radicals win by forcing their own views on to Muslims if islam is said to be the true religion of peace and the koran as being said to be very clear?

  2. Robert Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 1:34 pm

    Jafar Umar Thalib of Laskar Jihad regrets the use of religion by terrorists

    Shouldn’t it be: ……..regrets the use of terror by religious people.

  3. Ihaknt Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm

    Rob, same thing different name. Either way it’s wrong to terrorise people regardless of what religion you believe in!

  4. Robert Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 1:53 pm

    Ihaknt,

    When I read the sentence, it confused me, it looked like Jafar Umar Thalib accepts terrorrism as long as they aren’t religious. But you are right, either way it’s wrong!

  5. Naga Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 2:45 pm

    He is only influential because of his TNI backing, otherwise LJ wouldn’t have been armed and been able to waltz into Ambon and create chaos.

  6. Mohammed Khafi Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    He said Poso and Ambon had become centres for the spreading of radical, violent religious teachings.

    The radical groups terrorised and used the local people for their own purposes while the majority of Muslims in those areas were forced into supporting the extremist groups.

    Most Indonesian Muslims could not accept a violence-based form of Islam, he said,

    but in the long run it was not impossible that the radicals would win the day by forcing their view on others.

    He made reference to the recent visit by Abu Bakar Bashir to the presidential palace saying that such events were part an effort to cover up the terrorist campaign.

    The stated aim of applying Islamic law was also just a cover to win power, he said.

    True,
    True,
    True,
    True,
    True, But what is his aim by saying all this now, I wonder?
    True.

    Peace

  7. Manuel Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 4:31 pm

    Hmmmm Jaffar U T, look at the picture of His boys, the self serve army of what ever they say they are defending.

    I decided not to spend time thinking about what the JUT said or thought.

  8. Bas Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 6:14 pm

    “How come I never heard of violence-based form of budhism, Hinduism or Christianity”

    You should hear more carefully. Christianity had very violent times. Budhism also has violent forms. From Tibet to China warrior monks have persecuted the population.

    But of course nothing compArable to the uncivilized violence of nowaday islamism.

  9. Andrew Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 11:30 pm

    I’m puzzled, but I choose to see it as a positive gesture.

  10. Peter Says:
    March 23rd, 2007 at 8:10 am

    Jafar Umar Thalib of Laskar Jihad regrets the use of religion by terrorists

    Shouldn’t it be: “¦”¦..regrets the use of terror by religious people.

    No it was right the first time, I say. Those people are not following their religion but following terror instead. They use religion to legitimate their terror.

  11. guebukanmonyet Says:
    March 24th, 2007 at 3:09 am

    I’m confused as you guys are.
    What was his purpose of saying all those stuffs. I mean I don’t really know about such thing but from my point of view he was “seen” as one of those extremists. Correct me if I’m wrong.

    Thanks.

  12. Jorge Says:
    March 28th, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    Is this for real? What brought the change in tune? I was in Ambon when LJ rampaged across the islands bringing death and destruction to all and sundry (Moslems included).

    Or is this another BS attempt by the Ustaz?

  13. Odinius Says:
    April 3rd, 2007 at 3:12 am

    I’m a bit confused by Mr Thalib here. I mean, what did he consider laskar jihad to be for Christians in Ambon? Armed, religious charity workers?

    I wonder if this maybe underscores the alleged link between LJ and the TNI that others have suggested?

  14. Javert Says:
    May 3rd, 2007 at 7:53 am

    Please, so long as people on Earth act in accord with their own misinterpretations of imaginary mandates from an invisible man in the sky who ostendibly controls everything then, well, Earth will continue to be peopled by, and ruined by, the lj and their ilk.

Comment on “Jafar Umar Thalib”.

Comments Policy.

Copyright Indonesia Matters 2006-08