Roots of Indonesian Terrorism

October 12th, 2006, in News, by Patung

Indonesian terrrorism has different origins to that of its middle-eastern counterpart, says a psychologist.

Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono, chairman of the Asian Psychologists’ Association (APA) and someone described as a “terrorism expert at the University of Indonesia”, speaking to AFP, said that while terrorism in the Middle East was rooted in nationalism, in Indonesia it has traditionally been based on Islamic jihad ideology.

Another difference was that families of Indonesian terrorists were mostly ashamed of their sons’/brothers’/fathers’ acts, unlike in the Middle East where such terrorist and suicide attacks are often a source of pride.

Sarlito said a recent study showed that the doctrine of jihad was the main factor that influenced young Muslims to join militant groups and launch terrorist attacks. The study was based on interviews with death-row Bali bombers Imam Samudra, Amrozi, Ali Gufron and Ali Imron.

What is in their mind is extreme ideology and rigid faith which makes them firm and prepared to use violence in the name of religion with the promise of pretty angels in heaven if they are killed.

Sarlito described the leaders of JI and similar groups as “psychopaths”, able to manipulate people into becoming suicide bombers, even when technology allows bombings to be carried out without the need for the bomber to give up his life.

The suicide bombers are there as just a sensational thing. The fact that there is a suicide bomber gives an attack a higher profile.

Meanwhile Nasir Abas, a former regional commander of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror network who has since joined efforts to fight terrorism, said Indonesian terrorists specifically targeted civilians, in contrast to their Middle Eastern counterparts.

They launch their actions against civilians, unarmed people and not where there is a state of war.

Nasir said, adding that JI leaders were among the most dangerous of terrorists in the world. Nasir said he believes key JI leader Noordin M. Top, who remains on the run, continues to recruit new jihadists.

Nasir, who was arrested in 2003 in Bekasi, West Java, said JI was established in 1993 to defend Islamic lands against infidels.

We were recruited not to carry out suicide attacks but to wage jihad against countries and against any non-Muslims who invaded Muslim countries. We were taught about certain extreme Islamic teachings to enable us to possess strong faith and were trained to use violence to defend our religion.

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8 Comments on “Roots of Indonesian Terrorism”

  1. Mohammed Khafi Says:
    October 12th, 2006 at 12:25 pm

    We were taught about certain extreme Islamic teachings to enable us to possess strong faith and were trained to use violence to defend our religion.

    I have said it before, but it does deserve repeating, that these teachings and the fact that they use violence against innocents, puts them outside the realm of Islamic faith, the sooner mainstream Muslims realise this and start to promote it the better for all, not just in Indonesia, but the world in general.

    Peace

  2. Iqbal Ahnaf Says:
    October 12th, 2006 at 12:30 pm

    “The study was based on interviews with death-row Bali bombers Imam Samudra, Amrozi, Ali Gufron and Ali Imron.” How naive to base reserach conclusion only on the rhetorics made by those un-Islamic terrorists. never be fooled by them! needless to say, extreme ideology is a determinant, but never been an independent one.

    mia

  3. Josef Says:
    October 12th, 2006 at 1:59 pm

    in the name of religion with the promise of pretty angels in heaven if they are killed

    Think of the selfishness involved here. They care not who they kill or hurt, women and children are no matter, so long as they get to go to paradise to have sex with pretty angels.

  4. Molisan Tono Says:
    October 17th, 2006 at 12:18 pm

    promised pretty angel???

    definitely sounds that these lunatics not having their faith toward God and truth which drive their belief… it’s because of lust for pretty angel. dumb ass psychopaththetical looney…

    blinded and dumb… sex with angel? duh…

    sex with the devil… maybe… heaven? g, i wonder if they gonna enter that gate.

  5. Hassan Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 5:47 am

    actually it is better translated as “bidadari” than “malaikat”.

    but I think they will have a lot to answer to God after their deaths. only God will decide where they will end up.

  6. Molisan Tono Says:
    October 18th, 2006 at 9:47 am

    i agree with u Hassan, that only God can decide where will they end up after death… but again… sex with bidadari?… hahaha… what a twisted sex maniac. i wonder what actual drive their belief… is that what Islam teach about jihad? gee… no wonder many FPI looney like to show off on TV crying out Jihad this and Jihad that… specially against playboy… now i know what drive their faith… HAVING SEX….

    hey guys… it’s SEX=ROOTS OF INDONESIAN TERRORISM.

  7. O. Bule Says:
    October 20th, 2006 at 12:15 am

    Zealotry is bad. That Indonesian Islam has come to this is tragic.

    O. Bule

  8. Hassan Says:
    October 20th, 2006 at 6:47 am

    Molisan Tono: hahaha, it’s not necessarily like what you said my friend. those people actually did it for God, but they forgot to check whether God would like it if they did those things. they are misguided or were falsely led to believe that it was for a good cause.

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