Anticipating
ripples from the Syrian conflict
in
Indonesia
Noor Huda Ismail ; The
writer sits on the board of
the Institute for International Peace Building
in Jakarta
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JAKARTA
POST, 28 Maret 2014
Today’s
conflict in Syria – itself a result of the Arab Spring in 2011 — has created
ripples reaching Indonesia, adding to the country’s complex dynamic of
Islamic activism. How does this phenomenon take place? Why should we care about
it?
Islamic
activism in Indonesia has been very vibrant, especially in response to any
international affairs that deal with Islam — in the form of mass
demonstrations, hectic media campaigns, public discussions and the deployment
of “humanitarian missions” by non-state actors under the banner of Muslim
solidarity.
For
outsiders, the Syrian conflict is difficult to understand as the bitter
reality suggests Muslims killing other Muslims. The only difference is both
the regime and the rebels have different Islamic schools of thought, Shiite
and Sunni. The two sides have resources, ideological justifications and
traditional alliances within the state, or with non-state actors.
For
instance, the Shiite side would be supported by most Muslims in Iran and
Lebanon. Most Muslims in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey, Europe, Australia,
Indonesia, Malaysia and others would be more sympathetic toward the Sunni
plight.
In
response to the above problem, a fringe fraction of Islamic activists in
Indonesia have come up with more concrete and systemic initiatives locally
and internationally.
Locally,
their activities run like an industry: A publishing company owned by one
activist translated books from Middle Eastern writers portraying the conflict
as a cosmic war. An event organizer called “Syam Organizer” held book
discussions entitled “Love for Syam” in more than 40 locations mainly in
Java. One hundred to 150 people including post-conflict actors in
Afghanistan, Mindanao in the southern Philippines, Ambon in Maluku province
and Poso in Central Sulawesi attended each event. They engaged in networking
and donated to the cause.
Internationally,
they send recruits using the humanitarian helmet and some fall off the radar
and join the rebels. Thanks to their existing network, especially from
Indonesian students in the Middle Eastern countries such as Yemen and Egypt
who speak the local languages, they know how to link up with the rebel
networks, primarily two groups: Jabhah An Nusroh, linked to al-Qaeda, and the
Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS). The leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al
Zawahiri, has openly rejected ISIS as an affiliate.
It is
very difficult to estimate the exact number of Indonesians who have gone to
Syria and joined which group within the highly diverse rebel movement, which
sometimes fight one another.
Such
divisiveness also takes place here, suggesting there is no single player in
the game. This was evident in a public event supporting the ISIS held in
Jakarta on March 16. The event received little media attention, probably
because it was the first day of the legislative political campaign period.
The glossy brochures distributed during the event contained endorsements from
three convicted terrorists: the ideologue, Aman Abdurrahman, Rois Abu Syaukat
and Abdullah Sunata, all of whom are now incarcerated in Central Java’s
Alcatraz, Nusakambangan.
All of
them have called for recruits to support the ISIS. Abu Syaukat, who is on
death row for his involvement in the Australian Embassy bombing, said: “A
caliphate is something that we are longing for. Today, its foundation and
construction is in front of our eyes.
"Do
we want to be just dreamers who want to see a caliphate or be part of the
movement as mujahid, fighters who struggle for the creation of a caliphate?”
Aman
echoed him by saying: “I encourage all Muslims wherever they are to support
and defend the ISIS and may God lift all burdens from our shoulders [in
helping] ISIS so that Islam will be victorious and feared by its enemies.
Those who are against ISIS’ existence are infidels and hypocrites or they
lust for power or are swayed by the media that have tainted the ISIS’ image.”
This
declaration will be a game changer in Islamic activism because it will
attract more young activists to find possible ways to support and possibly
join the ISIS so they can travel to Syria and fight with the rebels. At least
200 people attended the event and proudly displayed black banners similar to
the al-Qaeda flag.
As
Indonesia and the region suffered from the impact of the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan in the 1980s, especially from veterans who transformed perceived
grievances into violent actions such as in the first 2002 Bali bombing, the
Indonesian government, with the help of regional governments, must invest
more resources in anticipating ripples from the Syrian conflict.
One
possible solution is establishing a hub for information and expertise sharing
through employing both first and second track diplomatic initiatives,
especially with the Turkish government.
Most of
these people entered Syria via Turkey. A strong international commitment to
end this protracted conflict that has claimed the lives of thousands of
innocent civilians must be the top priority of the international community. ●
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