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| Terror Networks |
| JI source strategizes on Southeast Asia jihad |
| 2002-02-11 |
He said that it was difficult operating in the neighbouring countries because of the 'pervasiveness of their intelligence agencies' which he noted had grown stronger with US backing after the Sept 11 attacks. The 37-year-old activist who claims to have read philosophy at the State Institute for Islamic Studies in Yogyakarta and uses three aliases, conceded: 'That is one reason why we failed in Singapore and Malaysia. We underestimated the ability of their governments to detect our plans.' JI also failed to read correctly the sentiments of the Muslim communities in the two countries, thinking that they could be swayed easily after Washington declared war on Afghanistan. He said that the reaction in Indonesia from both moderates and radicals was more critical, making it easier to convince them of the need for a jihad against the US. He added that was why JI, which wanted to set up a region-wide Islamic republic by uniting Malaysia, Indonesia and the southern Philippines, would put Indonesia first now in any attacks against American targets. Previously, the strategy was to focus on other states first. 'There is less of a risk that things will go wrong in Indonesia for us,' he said. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |