It seeks to establish a caliphate… What do you know about the Islamic group in Indonesia?
The Islamic group in Indonesia is a jihadist group in Southeast Asia, aiming to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region through violent jihad. It first gained international media attention after carrying out bombings in Bali in 2002 and 2005, which resulted in the deaths of 202 and 20 people, respectively (most of them foreign tourists).
Among other violent operations, according to the “Arab Center for Studies on Extremism,” the Islamic group is known for its connection to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the failed “Bojinka” plot in 1995, which aimed to blow up 12 U.S. commercial planes within two days.
The Islamic group, as defined by the center, has ties with Al-Qaeda and the Abu Sayyaf group, a terrorist organization based in the Philippines. The group’s co-founder and former leader, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, pledged allegiance to ISIS in July 2014. However, some reports claim that the group does not support ISIS and remains affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
In July 2008, Ba’asyir established a new group called Ansar al-Tawhid, which has since been involved in numerous terrorist attacks. Ba’asyir sought to revive the “Islamic movement” in Indonesia through public outreach and preaching. To serve this purpose, he founded Ansar al-Tawhid as an “open and above-ground” organization, unlike the “secrecy” that marked the Islamic group. The creation of Ansar al-Tawhid caused a split within the Islamic group, with some members following Ba’asyir while others remained committed to the original group. The Islamic group and Ansar al-Tawhid differed on strategy and tactics.
The Islamic group appointed Para Wijayanto as its leader in 2008 due to his experience within the group and operational knowledge. According to the Indonesian police, Wijayanto was involved in the worst bombings carried out by the Islamic group, dating back to the year 2000.
Several reports indicate a renewed threat from the Islamic group. Indonesian authorities fear the return of Indonesian jihadists after training with jihadist groups in the Middle East. Analyst Sidney Jones stated, “We are all concerned that with nearly 200 fighters or supporters in Syria and Iraq from Indonesia, there could be a real push for the terrorist movement if they return.”
Terrorism analyst Taufik Andri added that the return of Indonesian foreign fighters could also exacerbate tensions between Indonesia’s Sunni majority and its Shia minority.
Reports also suggest that the Islamic group has been attempting to rebuild its military wing since 2010. It is believed that the group has kept its military activities underground in anticipation of future confrontation. However, the group has advised its recruits not to engage in violent actions. According to the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, such dynamics
could lead to a split within the Islamic group and the emergence of a more violent organization.
