8-9-2024 (JAKARTA) Former high-ranking members of the disbanded terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) convened a meeting in Bekasi, a satellite town of Jakarta, on 8 September. The gathering, attended by approximately 400 ex-members, marked a significant shift in the group’s stance, with leaders urging former comrades to surrender to authorities and contribute positively to Indonesia’s peace and economic development.
Abu Rusdan, a founding member and former leader of JI who was arrested in 2021, addressed the assembly via video conference from his detention facility in Jakarta. His message was clear and unprecedented: “Go ahead, turn yourself in. If you have any arms, surrender them to the authorities. You will not be detained.” This appeal forms part of a nationwide outreach campaign aimed at preventing former JI members from regrouping or joining splinter organisations following the group’s official dissolution in June.
The event in Bekasi is one of several similar gatherings held across Indonesia, including in Yogyakarta, Jambi on Sumatra, and Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara. These meetings have been organised by former JI leaders with the support of Indonesia’s national police counter-terrorism squad, Detachment 88, signalling a cooperative approach between former militants and law enforcement.
However, the police have clarified that while they welcome surrenders, ex-members will still face prosecution based on their level of involvement. They have promised to consider special circumstances in each case.
Abu Rusdan, who led JI between 2004 and 2007, also took the opportunity to address ideological misconceptions that have fuelled the group’s activities. “Until now, there is no fatwa that says Indonesia is taghut (the worship of false gods or idols, instead of Allah), and therefore must be attacked,” he stated, suggesting that such beliefs were based on inaccurate teachings passed down through generations.
The dissolution of JI was officially announced on 30 June, with senior leaders declaring their intention to “return to Indonesia’s embrace”. This decision marks a significant milestone in Indonesia’s fight against terrorism, as JI was responsible for some of the country’s most devastating attacks, including the 2002 Bali bombings that claimed over 200 lives.
Formed in 1993 by Indonesian clerics Abdullah Sungkar and Abu Rusdan, JI aimed to establish a conservative Islamic state in Southeast Asia. The group, which had links to Al-Qaeda, was outlawed in 2008 following a series of deadly attacks in Indonesia and the Philippines.
The gathering in Bekasi revealed mixed reactions among former members. Yudi Anto, a 42-year-old ex-member from Cibitung, West Java, expressed agreement with the decision to disband JI. “We, jemaah (the congregation), must bring about manfaat (benefits) to society,” he stated, suggesting a potential shift towards positive community engagement.
Similarly, Maman Suherman from Banten province, a seven-year JI veteran, voiced support for the group’s dissolution, citing Islamic teachings of respecting leadership decisions.
However, sources suggest that the news has been difficult for some long-term members to accept, particularly those who had made extreme sacrifices for the organisation.
Para Wijayanto, another former JI chief currently imprisoned, addressed the gathering via video call, using a dental analogy to explain the group’s approach to its problematic past: “If we have an aching tooth, we see a dentist to have the cavity filled, but if the problem persists, we pull out the teeth so it won’t create any more problems. We eliminate it.”
