Suicide Bombings in Jakarta

Jul 18th, 2009, in News, by

BombAlternative views of the terror attacks in Jakarta, Islamic extremism or rogue political and security forces.

Islam/Terrorism

General Ansyaad Mbai of a ministerial Anti-Terror Desk says he is convinced that the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton bombings in the Kuningan area of Jakarta on July 17th that killed nine people are connected to fugitive Noordin Mohammed Top of Jemaah Islamiyah, because it was a suicide bombing. antara

Other police sources say the bombs used at the hotels were similar to explosives discovered by police in a raid last week in Cilacap, Central Java, when Noordin M Top associate Syaefudin Zuhri was arrested. tempo

Terror expert from the International Crisis Group, Sidney Jones, also said the Noordin M Top group was likely responsible, and that any connection with the 2009 elections, an idea put forward by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), was improbable. l6

Noordin M Top
Noordin M Top

Business/Politics/Security Forces

However others view the bombings as an attempt to destroy the presidency of Yudhoyono, as being committed by rogue elements within the security forces, and/or as having a connection with recent shootings of foreigners at the Freeport mine in Papua.

They note that it was no accident that PT Freeport Indonesia executives Adrianto Machribie and David R Potter were injured in the blasts. These two men were holding a meeting with another businessman, Timothy David Mackay of PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk, who was killed.

President Yudhoyono in a speech connected the bombings to political threats his campaign had received during the elections, that if he won events in Indonesia would follow those in Iran after that country’s presidential elections.


54 Comments on “Suicide Bombings in Jakarta”

  1. diego says:

    Ok,

    So this has to do with Noordin M. Top (citizen of MALAYSIA). Like most (if not all) terrorist attack in Indonesia were arranged by those malaysian scumbags. Including basyir was basically “educated” in Malaysia.

    Indonesian diplomatic corps should’ve / should use those FACTS to completely destroy the image of malaysia in international stage. Use every ways. I want to see complete destruction, of Malaysia, something that would render their tourism campaigns worthless.

    Couple that with the FACTS that malaysian are basically apartheir country (treating chinese and indians as second class citizens, sub-humans). It should be a perfect ammo to paint malaysia as phariah of the south-east asia.

  2. diego says:

    Sorry, bad redaction, should have been: “Couple that with the FACT that malaysia is basically an apartheid country…”

  3. diego says:

    I think indonesian media must unite, and ALWAYS put an emphazis in their report (TV, radio, internet articles, interview, etc), NEVER forget to mention “a citizen of malaysia” whenever there’s a mention of “nordin m. top”. The same thing can be done whenever there’s a mention of basyir: “who was educated in malaysia”.

    I just watched the first video in this entry (SKY news). It’s a pity he missed the opportunity to say “nordin m. top is a malaysian” in that interview.

  4. Odinius says:

    Unfortunately, the actual bombers were almost certainly Indonesian, as are many others in what is left of JI. Regardless of national origin, they need to be found and put out of commission forever. Surely Indonesia has some nice disease-ridden, rat-infested Suharto-era gulags left??

  5. Ross says:

    Yes, let’s hunt them and hang them, but let’s also safeguard folks. Yesterday I took a short-cut through Sarinah and not a jot or tittle of security was in evidence.
    It’s a popular shopping centre and since it is often frequented by bules from the nearby hotels, and from Jaksa, it could be a very soft target for the goat-scum.

  6. Sputjam says:

    During the time of mahathir,

    a) abu bakar basyir and hambali, both on the run from Suharto for Ji activities, were given refuge in Malaysia, including a PR status. they were shown the door only after international outcry, and the ISA was not used on them. Why?
    b) Abu sayyaf of southern phillipines, also linked to JI, kidnapped tourists for ransom on the island of Sipadan in order to get unpaid dues from the malaysian government.
    c) Thaksin claimed that Malaysian government backed separatist movement in southern thailand.
    d) Malaysian special branch and agents were active in Aceh during the separatist movement there. Not known what their mission was for.
    e) despite the distance, Malaysian government supported the independent Bosnian muslims in arms and money.
    f) and most probably the palestinians.
    g) The afghan northern alliance had their embassy in KL although the country was ruled by taliban.
    h) Malaysians do not require a visa to north korea, but will need one to US and japan.
    i) Malaysian company produce and sent uranium centrifuge parts to Libya, through Pakistani nuclear expert.
    j) some of the 911 participants came to KL for a meeting before they excute their evil deeds.

    During the time of mahathir, malaysia-truly terrorises asia, and some other parts of the world.

  7. ultratupai says:

    Wow, such anti-Malaysia rants.

    However see my last two recent post.

    The recent bombings will be shown to be the work of JI or what is left of it. It is (was) interesting that Probowo’s name came up regarding all of this. At least this show, in part, that he has not completely lost his reputation (much deserved) as being a very bad apple.

    And there are problems at the fringe which need addressing: the Muslims in south Thailand and Mindanao. These folks have legitimate grievances which need to be addressed otherwise this feeds into the JI discourse.

    My last comment is that Indonesia is a secular Republic. That is not going to change. The Islamic right has persisted from the bad old days of Darul Islam – it’s called JI now it might be called something later in the future. These folks will be caught. The firing squad is ready.

  8. diego says:

    Finally… just about the time. The word “malaysia” is put in the title of the news, adjacent to fugitive / bombing / terrorist. Spot on CNN!

    http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/18/indonesia.hotels.explosions/index.html?eref=edition

  9. Odinius says:

    Sputjam said:

    despite the distance, Malaysian government supported the independent Bosnian muslims in arms and money.

    Doesn’t really fit. There were some radical Islamists fighting in Bosnia, but almost all foreign mujahidin, and not many to begin with. The Bosnian government was run by a secular nationalist party representing Bosnia’s Slavic Muslims, who conceived of themselves as a national community, not a religious one. And this party, despite its nationalist ideology, remained committed to a multinational Bosnia.

    So sure Malaysia supported the Bosnian government, and simply because they were Muslims, but it can hardly be called a part of a broader support for radical Islamism. And besides, Malaysian support for the Bosnian government was dwarfed by the support it got from the US.

  10. David says:

    Most of these guys come from backwoods parts of Central Java, so if you want to turn it into an ethnic thing you can say it’s a Javanese problem. But the leadership issue is important, the ICG study on the Palembang group (who all got arrested before they could do any damage) said in the beginning they were just an ordinary quranic study group, but some hard core guy got in amongst them and turned them to the Dark Side, but he had to keep at them, because they’d keep wavering and losing their ‘bottle’, it took a constant effort to maintain their will to commit violence. I’d say you could walk through any pesantren and find dozens of young men who could end up being suicide bombers if the right people got at them, Malaysian or Indonesian.

  11. Andy says:

    Thank you Patung for your honest and realistic post. Sputjam and diego hang your heads in shame. You have done the typical Indonesian thing which is to blame all others if you do something wrong yourselves. Yes a Malaysian is the mastermind behind JI but really, there are 1,000s of willing footsoldiers ready to blow themselves up in the name of Allah being born everyday in remote parts of Java.
    They need a Malaysian to do the planning as Indonesians are largely followers rather than leaders. You can see this anytime you visit a store throughout the country and you have to ask any number of staff for information only to see them looking in anyone else’s direction.
    Let’s be serious…It is an islamic problem and as there are 200 million plus muslims in Indonesia there are bound to be terrorists. Add to that the unwillingness to hand out harsh sentences when they are caught and the weakness in dealing with Abu Bakar Bashir who, while having lived a few years in Malaysia, is Indonesian born and bred.
    The sad thing is I can’t see any end to the problem and it will continue to go on as long as the nation’s leaders try hard to cosy up to Islamists and pander to their whims ala the pornografi bill.

  12. Abdul Khalid al Jumhuri says:

    It is about intelligence. Malaysia is smarter, who could sent, operated, and see the fruits of its very effective operative being cherished by the numbskulls in Indonesia as a jihadist. That is, Malaysia should send three four, or ten more moles while other cheerleaders the like of Abubakar Baazir is clapping and calling the Indonesian government as shit. Malaysia is smart, and Indonesia is the jackass. Only until we realize that we are the jackass of the ASEAN will we make a full effort to unite and fry the assholes. If Ass(hole)zahari were not shot dead, the Malaysians will remain denying the fact that he actually existed. Otherwise they will say it is the demon the Indonesians made to blame the innocent bystanders. Yes, innocent my ass.

  13. Ross says:

    Yes, Andy, it is a disgrace that Baashir is still on the loose, the mangy old swine shoulda been put away – or put down – years ago.

    His example shows how serious, or how gutsy, the regime is in the context of fighting terrorism. they generally do their best to get the guys behind atrocities, but then the legal authorities swivel about in their chairs and look for every possible way to avoid or delay the just desserts.

    I’m not just talking about the Bali Pigs; I still get mad when I remember that swine who got only 20 years, the little school-girls who were beheaded for being Christian evidently judged as being worth about 7 years jail-time each.

    If SBY wants to boost his street-cred, he should have that piece of filth re-tried and executed.

  14. diego says:

    I just read an article on JakPost titled “beyond bombing an introspection”…. Hmm, first thing that crosses my mind: indonesia bangsa yang ramah dan murah senyum. Then enter the picture of those giggling girly boys. Omfg, I hate gays.

  15. aaronm says:

    Couple that with the FACTS that malaysian are basically apartheir country (treating chinese and indians as second class citizens, sub-humans).

    No history of that in Indonesia? Did you happen to notice the proliferation of campaign banners mentioning the apartheid-esque term “pribumi” during the last election? Methinks someone needs a little history refresher course.

  16. fanglong says:

    So easy to accuse “Malaysians”. So easy to mention NMTop : the guy is so stupid he’s still running, so stupid as to repeat his ways in terror : maybe we should widen our views & imagine other scenarios about a terror act in the same ol’ Marriott Hotel — why there (again?), etc. ?

  17. orang-Aus says:

    Its true what you guys have mentioned about Malaysia. I worked for Malaysian government (the job I do has about 10 people in the world who do it, thats why they employed me) and experienced apartheid everyday. We were banned from employing Indians and Indonesians, this degree came from above as we found the Indonesians had the skills required that we could not find with the Malay applicants.

  18. djaka says:

    No history of that in Indonesia? Did you happen to notice the proliferation of campaign banners mentioning the apartheid-esque term “pribumi” during the last election?

    Do banners sign an apartheid regime? May someone explain ?

  19. Suryo Perkoso says:

    Now if you are saying that Malays really didn’t have a particular skill set that Indians/Indonesians were endowed with, then that’s one thing, if however you are saying that your employer prefered to place the work with Malay nationals, then that is quite another.

    Couple of things cross my mind, what can Indians/WNI do that Malays can’t? and what job has only about 10 people that can do it?

  20. Ross says:

    As to the latter, may I suggest ‘cinetron reviewer for IM.’

  21. David says:

    Manohara Ross, Manohara beckons for a review.

    These are the police sketches of the suicide bombers

  22. diego says:

    From a quick racial profiling, he looks like a malaysian (the guy in the sketch).

  23. Suryo Perkoso says:

    The geezer holding the photo looks a bit dodgy too.

  24. Joseph says:

    He’s the Kadiv Humas Polri [chief of Indonesian police force public relations] Irjen Pol. Nanan Sukarna if I’m not mistaken..
    Hope the police could figure out this issue as soon as possible.

  25. orang-Aus says:

    Suryo Perkoso,

    It was not a decision based on skills it was a government decree based on race. I had some great highly skilled engineers available through Indopower and they said no way to that. We used local guys instead, Malaysian government experience and local trained engineers who failed us, not the individuals fault but more the management and the policy in place.

    Bet the heads dont look like that now.

    Cheers

  26. berlian biru says:

    The Malaysian angle should not lightly be dismissed as a case of Indonesian scapegoating. The Malaysian origins of the bombers is very relevant indeed, if only for the rather obvious question as to why they do not bomb Malaysian targets.

    The bombers have frequently attacked Indonesia, targeted Changi airport in Singapore and are almost certainly connected to the insurgencies in Thailand and the Philippines. Is anyone else noticing a SE Asian country that seems to be remarkably free from the attentions of these terrorists?

    It used to be said in the 1970’s when Arab terrorists were frequently highjacking airliners that the safest airline to fly with was Air France as the French had a rather cosy and not too secret arrangement with the terrorists.

    Malaysia is in an almost unique position of being one of the few major Muslim nations (outside those which are themselves terrorist sponsoring states) which has not suffered an Islamist terrorist attack. That fact is extremely significant, could Malaysia be maintaining its squeaky clean image with the foreign investment community and tourists by some rather dirty shitting in their neighbours’ gardens?

  27. molceonly says:

    That’s pretty ugly dead man faces aren’t they? how on earth so called intelligence could make up such ugly faces to construct the suicide bomber? okay they’re wasted… but at least put a decent face so people will understand who is actual the bomber…

    With that ugly faces, police already miss pointed innocence people as verdict.

  28. Cukurungan says:

    Let’s be serious…It is an islamic problem and as there are 200 million plus muslims in Indonesia there are bound to be terrorists. Add to that the unwillingness to hand out harsh sentences when they are caught and the weakness in dealing with Abu Bakar Bashir who, while having lived a few years in Malaysia, is Indonesian born and bred.
    The sad thing is I can’t see any end to the problem and it will continue to go on as long as the nation’s leaders try hard to cosy up to Islamists and pander to their whims ala the pornografi bill.

    Misteer Andy,

    You do not need too worry with our life because we have been live with Islam since 700 years ago and up to now we have no other better choice than live with it. Btw, there is still a good news for you that we Muslim do not care whether you like or not with Islam because it is not our business at all.

    Regards,
    Servant of The Truth

  29. Andy says:

    Cukurungan, just wondering….are you , Purba and AAB the same guy? Your writing styles and beliefs are much the same. Xenophobia, religious extremism and out and out western hating makes me wonder.

    As for this particular post, you will wonder at the end of your life why you bothered praying at ridiculous times, not drinking and eating the most delicious of meats (babi) when you know all that will happen is you will be buried much the same way as me. And you will regret not living life to the full.

  30. diego says:

    As for this particular post, you will wonder at the end of your life why you bothered praying at ridiculous times, not drinking and eating the most delicious of meats (babi) when you know all that will happen is you will be buried much the same way as me. And you will regret not living life to the full.

    Señor Andres,

    You missed the point. It’s about what will happen after the burial…. They get 72 virgins, we don’t (I don’t know about you, but I will reincarnate so I’m not really worried).

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