Mainly terrorism in Indonesia: catch all

[Bill Moore]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapc...lan/index.html

Authorities found about 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of explosives near the church on Thursday, said Boy Rafli Amar, the national police spokesman.

There were two large bombs and five smaller ones, he said.

The actual CNN report (on T.V.) also mentioned the bombs were placed next to a gas pipeline and that the potential casualty figures could have been quite high if this attack wasn't disrupted.

The security forces in Indonesia have been highly successful in the past few years, but extremist groups are still operating. One of their goals is to re-create the ethnic strife responsible for hundreds of deaths a decade ago, which appears to be the logic behind this target.

Indonesia is the largest Muslim nation in the world, so what happens there matters.

[Backwards Observer]

Off topic, but another side of Indonesia:

Tens of thousands of fans will greet teen heartthrob Justin Bieber at his concert in Sentul Bogor Saturday, event organizer Berlian Entertainment said.

...

Around 1,000 security personnel will be deployed to secure the concert, Berlian Entertainment Project Director Marcel Permadhi said. Security will consist of the police, the military as well as private security personnel, Marcel said. Bieber will also bring his own bodyguards, Marcel said. About 100 medical staff and 10 ambulance units will be on stand by during the event.

Thousands of fans to greet teen heartthrob at concert - Prodita Sabarini - Jakarta Post - 23 April, 2011

and 'back in the day'...

In 1993, youths rioted outside a Jakarta stadium after being denied entrance to a "Metallica" concert. The Indonesian news agency reported 13 people were taken to hospital, and cars and houses were damaged. But independent reports said the rioting was much more serious. The Indonesian government said it would take more care in issuing rock concert permits.

global metal - metallica concert, jakarta 1993 - youtube

Metallica setlist, April 10, 1993, Jakarta - metallica.com

...

but also:

A suicide bomber attacked the Adz-Zikro mosque located within a police complex in Cirebon City in Indonesia last Friday, April 15, 2011. Dozens were injured when the bomb exploded during Friday prayers. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim dominated nation in the world and in recent years, it has been targeted by extremist terrorist groups.

Indonesia: Suicide Bomber Targets Police Mosque - Tikno - Global Voices - 21 April, 2011

[Bill Moore]

I don't what concerns me more, thousands of Justin Bieber fans in Indonesia, or Islamists in Indonesia?

Actually I think one feeds the other, and there are at least two movements that appear to be gaining traction in Indonesia. One is a movement towards the West. They want to incorporate some western business models and culture. Another movement is back towards fundamentalist Islam, and they'll employ extreme tactics in hopes of stopping the progression towards the West. I think the fact that there are thousands of Bieber fans simply makes the situation both more dangerous in the short run and perhaps more hopeful in the long run.

[Backwards Observer]

I don't what concerns me more, thousands of Justin Bieber fans in Indonesia, or Islamists in Indonesia?

I know, tough call. If it was thousands of Islamist Justin Bieber fans, then there might be real trouble...or something.

Actually I think one feeds the other, and there are at least two movements that appear to be gaining traction in Indonesia. One is a movement towards the West. They want to incorporate some western business models and culture. Another movement is back towards fundamentalist Islam, and they'll employ extreme tactics in hopes of stopping the progression towards the West. I think the fact that there are thousands of Bieber fans simply makes the situation both more dangerous in the short run and perhaps more hopeful in the long run.

I agree with this. Thousands of Metallica fans can't be wrong...er, can they?

[Backwards Observer]

More very naughty behaviour averted in Indonesia.

JAKARTA - INDONESIAN police said on Thursday they had found six unexploded bombs similar to one detonated by a suicide bomber inside a police mosque last month.

National police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the improvised devices appeared to have been prepared for a wave of suicide attacks in the mainly Muslim archipelago of 240 million people.

'They planned to use the six pipe bombs for another terror attack like the one which was carried out by Syarif,' he told reporters, referring to the mosque bomber's name. Thirty people were wounded in that incident.

Indonesian Police Find Six Unexploded Bombs - Straits Times - May 5, 2011

(hat tip to The Interloper, ah, I mean The Interpreter )

[davidbfpo]

A report released last week by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute found that Indonesian jails are an "incubator" of terrorist operations and recruitment, where extremists can preach, mingle freely with others (radicalisation), and have easy access to cell phones and other forms of communication:http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/...293&pubtype=10

The BB's summary:

A new report has concluded that Indonesian prisons are incubators of terrorism where jailed jihadis form new links and even plan attacks.

The New York Times last week looked at the rise of Islamic "vigilante groups" in Indonesia, whose violence against minority sects and religions is often ignored by police:http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/20/wo...html?ref=world.

And Indonesian police alleged last week that the group said to be responsible for a deadly suicide attack on a police mosque last month was linked to the hardline cleric Abu Bakir Bashir and the group Jemaah Ansharut Tauhid:http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/...-bashir/441851

[Backwards Observer]

[anecdote] A whiles back, I was slated for a business trip to Indonesia. I asked some of the old Asia types if it might be wise to get a cheaper watch owing to stories of people getting their hands chopped off in order to steal Rolexes and such. They said that one shouldn't believe every cock and bull story one hears, and besides where I was headed they'd probably chop off the hand, throw away the watch and keep the hand.

So, it is with mild disbelief one can read today a gender theory critique of Islam as it relates to terrorism published as an editorial in the Jakarta Post, also noting that none of the comments involve chopping. Peace be upon them.

Religious radicalism and the masculinization of God
Satrio Wahono, Jakarta | Mon, 10/24/2011

We apparently live in fear now that terrorist bombers are flourishing in the country. Less than a year after the suicide bombing of the police headquarters in Cirebon, West Java, we have again been shocked by similar acts of terror at Bethel Injil Sepenuh Church (GBIS) in Surakarta, Central Java, in late September.

This series of events inevitably leads us to the gloomy conclusion that the movement driven by radical religious doctrine has not disappeared in Indonesia. Such a doctrine believes that any means — including the use of violence — are justified to overthrow an order perceived as secular and corrupt. In exchange, followers of the doctrine aspire to establish an ideal order that they believe will be approved by God. Therefore, analyzing such a doctrine is important for us in an attempt to neutralize it.

Religious radicalism and the masculinization of God - Jakarta Post - Oct 24, 2011