The Return of Jemaah Islamiyah? 07/17/2009
The today's attack on the Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia may signal the reemergence of South East Asian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah. While no group has claimed responsibility as of this post, the attacks are clearly in line with JI's operational history and objectives.
The group first appeared on the international terror scene in 1995 when one of its founders, an Indonesian named Hambali, in partnership with Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed plotted to bring down eleven U.S. commercial flights across Asia. The plot was serendipitously revealed and Hambali was driven underground. This pressure ultimately forced JI to evolve and grow more independent from al-Qaeda.
More after the jump -->
The group first appeared on the international terror scene in 1995 when one of its founders, an Indonesian named Hambali, in partnership with Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed plotted to bring down eleven U.S. commercial flights across Asia. The plot was serendipitously revealed and Hambali was driven underground. This pressure ultimately forced JI to evolve and grow more independent from al-Qaeda.
More after the jump -->
By 2000, the group's stated objective was to establish a pan-Islamic state across South East Asia. During this period JI also began to develop its technical modus operandi. The group has a number of highly adapt bomb makers who churn out effective and reliable explosives from suicide vests to large truck bombs.
From the beginning JI has favored highly symbolic, civilian targets. In December 2000, the organization carried out a series of attacks against churches across Indonesia and in October 2002 the JI targeted a nightclub on the island of Bali popular with foreign tourist killing 202. In August 2003, JI bombed the same Marriott hotel hit in today’s attack killing thirteen.
JI's most recent confirmed attack was carried out in October, 2005 when suicide bombers detonated explosives at multiple sites around Bali killing 20 people. (For a complete list see CFR’s Backgrounder on JI here.)
While Indonesia was initially hesitant reign in JI for fear of domestic backlash, the Bali bombing in 2002 forced officials in Jakarta to change their tune. Over the next three years, Indonesian authorities in partnership with Australian and Western intelligence agencies cracked down on JI’s networks and funding structures. These efforts where widely successful; many of JI’s commanders including co-founder Abu Bakar Bashir were arrested and the organizations funds were, in large part, isolated and frozen.
Recently, there was some indication that JI would attempt to stage a comeback later in the year. Many of the younger militants jailed during the initial crack downs are set to be released and key figures like Noordin Top remain at large. But no one expected the organization to carry out such an attack so soon.
Today’s bombing is likely an announcement that Jemaah Islamiyah is back and more audacious than ever. The bombing was clearly a complicated affair involving multiple high value, high security targets. The question now becomes how should Indonesia and the U.S. respond.
From the beginning JI has favored highly symbolic, civilian targets. In December 2000, the organization carried out a series of attacks against churches across Indonesia and in October 2002 the JI targeted a nightclub on the island of Bali popular with foreign tourist killing 202. In August 2003, JI bombed the same Marriott hotel hit in today’s attack killing thirteen.
JI's most recent confirmed attack was carried out in October, 2005 when suicide bombers detonated explosives at multiple sites around Bali killing 20 people. (For a complete list see CFR’s Backgrounder on JI here.)
While Indonesia was initially hesitant reign in JI for fear of domestic backlash, the Bali bombing in 2002 forced officials in Jakarta to change their tune. Over the next three years, Indonesian authorities in partnership with Australian and Western intelligence agencies cracked down on JI’s networks and funding structures. These efforts where widely successful; many of JI’s commanders including co-founder Abu Bakar Bashir were arrested and the organizations funds were, in large part, isolated and frozen.
Recently, there was some indication that JI would attempt to stage a comeback later in the year. Many of the younger militants jailed during the initial crack downs are set to be released and key figures like Noordin Top remain at large. But no one expected the organization to carry out such an attack so soon.
Today’s bombing is likely an announcement that Jemaah Islamiyah is back and more audacious than ever. The bombing was clearly a complicated affair involving multiple high value, high security targets. The question now becomes how should Indonesia and the U.S. respond.
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