Smaller terror groups drive threat in Indonesia

JAKARTA: With all the major suspects involved in the 2002 Bali bombings killed or imprisoned, smaller groups with more local aims are driving the terrorist threat in Indonesia.

Experts highlighted this, as part of discussions into the changing pattern of terrorism, at a forum in Jakarta.

Indonesian security forces have so far arrested almost 800 people on suspicion of militancy and sentenced nearly 700 of them.

But while the security forces' efforts and internal rifts have left Indonesia's most feared terror group Jemaah Islamiyah weakened, some members have now moved to form new cells and seek new recruits.

These new cells are now targeting the police, rather than orchestrating large scale bombings against Westerners.

"Like it or not, the excessive use of violence by authorities has spurred the possibility of the emergence of small cells, therefore we witness, if we look at the incidents, more attacks are towards the police," said Noor Huda Ismail, director executive at Institute for International Peace Building.

"Because they have enough oxygen to continue to breathe, enough ammunition to continue the recruitment because of the excessive of powers and this problem will linger until the next years."

Terrorists are increasingly using the Internet to tap into this perception of over-reach by authorities, using it to spread their message, and also raise funds.

They are even looking into hacking as part of fund raising efforts, in addition to donations, bank robberies, and legitimate front businesses.

But their network on the ground remains strong.

Experts say a major challenge for authorities is to track "dot connectors" -- ordinary people with radical thoughts who volunteer to connect the different terror cells spread out across the country.

"We tend to focus on big names like Santoso (a wanted terror suspect), who has become a celebrity in the media, but we forget these small actors who actually connect the dots," said Ms Noor Huda.

Ms Noor Huda also said post conflict areas such as Poso and Ambon will remain vulnerable conflict areas as they are conducive places for further terrorist recruitment.

Women who in the past served as moral support are now taking an active role in the terror cells by running shelters for terrorists on the run.

Terror expert Professor Greg Barton, meanwhile, put the focus on at-risk groups vulnerable to being recruited, saying the government needs to pay more attention to them.

He also felt civil society needs to be empowered to help prevent terror convicts from becoming repeat offenders.

Prof Barton said: "At best, many people who could be helped to permanently walk away from terrorism fall back into the old communities, the old networks because they are not helped to provide an alternative. Practical things like plugging them into new employment opportunities, new social networks are really key."

Professor Barton hopes Indonesia's two largest Muslim organisations, Nahdatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, play a larger role in creating post-prison rehabilitation programmes to help former convicts embrace a new way of life.

- CNA/xq

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