Terrorism in Indonesia

Terrorism in Indonesia refer to acts of terrorism that take place within Indonesia or attacks on Indonesian people or interests abroad. These acts of terrorism often target the government of the Republic of Indonesia or foreigners in Indonesia, most notably Western visitors, especially those from the United States and Australia.

Suspects

Damaged Ritz-Carlton Hotel in 2009 Jakarta bombings.

Traditionally the militias that politically opposed to Indonesian government interest were held responsible for series of terrorism attack in Indonesia. Separatist movements operating in Indonesia, such as the Darul Islam (Indonesia), Fretilin (East Timorese independence militia during Indonesian occupation of East Timor), Gerakan Aceh Merdeka, and Organisasi Papua Merdeka are often held responsible on terrorist attacks, such as bombings and shootings, in Indonesia. Recent terrorism in Indonesia can in part be attributed to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jemaah Islamiyah Islamist terror group.

Since 2003, a number of 'western targets' have been attacked. Victims have included both foreign—mainly Western tourists—as well as Indonesian civilians. Terrorism in Indonesia intensified in 2000 with the Jakarta Stock Exchange bombing, followed by four more large attacks. The deadliest killed 202 people (including 164 international tourists) in the Bali resort town of Kuta in 2002.[1] The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries, severely damaged Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects.[2] However, after the capture and killing of most of its key members and leaders, most notably Imam Samudra, Amrozi, Abu Dujana, Azahari Husin, and the latest one, Noordin Top, the terrorist cells in Indonesia are more and more insignificant.

Since 2011, the terrorist attack seems to be shifted, from targeting foreign Western interest and residents to attacking Indonesian police officers. Indonesian Police has been successfully cracking down terrorist cells in Indonesia, and as retaliation a new terrorist cell, identified as "Cirebon Cell" began targeting police officers. On 15 April 2011 a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in a mosque in a police compound in the city of Cirebon, in West Java, during Friday prayer. The bomber was killed and at least 28 people were injured.[3][4] The same cell also suspected to be involved in two more attacks in Solo, a church suicide bomb on 25 September 2011, and shooting targeting police on 17 August 2012. However these attacks were not as well-prepared and high scaled as previous attacks organized by terrorist group JI.

Although the terrorist attacks seems to be reduced in both amount and scale, some terrorist hotspots such as Poso, Central Sulawesi, remains as terrorist battleground. Poso was previously marred by religious violences between Muslims and Christian in the area. On 16 October 2012, Police discovered two corpses of murdered police that has been missing since three days earlier in Tamanjeka village, Poso Regency, Central Sulawesi. The victims were missing during investigation mission on suspected terrorist training ground in a forest at Poso Regency.[5]

Similar attacks targeting Indonesian authorities, especially police officers, were also occurred in Papua, however these ones are not linked with Islamist terrorist cells, but with Papuan separatist movement instead. On 8 April 2012, Trigana Air PK-YRF airplane were shot by unidentified gunmen during landing approach on Mulia airstrip, Puncak Jaya, Papua on 08.21 AM. A Papua Pos journalist, Kogoya (35), were killed in this shooting.[6] On 27 November 2012, three policemen stationed in remote Pirime police post, Jayawijaya, Papua, were killed in an attack by a group of unidentified men. Police suspected the Papua separatist movement were behind the attack.[7]

Political and community responses

Conspiracy theories similar to those around the September 11 attacks appeared in the Indonesian media blaming the Bali bombings on a Western-Jewish-Chinese-Masonic plot to discredit Islam. Used to a culture of rumour and violence under the "New Order", many Indonesians considered such theories credible. Subsequent bombings in the centre of Jakarta, in which all but one victim were ordinary Indonesians, shocked the public and brought swift responses from the Indonesian security forces. Even the most reluctant politicians had to admit that the evidence was against a small group of Islamist agitators. The Jakarta bombings and legal prosecutions helped shift public opinion away from the use of extremist Islamic political violence, but also increased the influence of intelligence bodies, the police and military whose strength had diminished since 1998.[8]

Political factors clouded Indonesian responses to the "War on Terror"; politicians were at pains not to be seen to be bowing to US and Australian opinion, and the term "Jemaah Islamiyah" is controversial in Indonesia as it means "Islamic community/congregation", and was also the subject of previous "New Order" manipulation of the term.[9]

Effects

The attacks, and subsequent travel warnings issued by other countries including the United States[2] and Australia,[10] severely damaged Indonesia's tourism industry and foreign investment prospects. Bali's economy was particularly hard hit, as were tourism based businesses in other parts of Indonesia. In May 2008, the United States government decided to lift its warning.[10] In 2006, 227,000 Australians visited Indonesia and in 2007 this rose to 314,000.[10]

Counter terrorism

Detachment 88 is the Indonesian counter-terrorism squad, and part of the Indonesian National Police. Formed after the 2002 Bali bombing, the unit has had considerable success against the jihadi terrorist cells linked to Central Java-based Islamist movement Jemaah Islamiah.[10]

Within the next three months after the 2002 Bali bombing, various militants, including the attack's mastermind Imam Samudra, the notorious 'smiling-bomber' Amrozi, and many others were apprehended.[11] Samudra, Amrozi, and Amrozi's brother Ali Ghufron were executed by firing squad on November 9, 2008.

On November 10, 2005, bomb expert and senior player in Jemaah Islamiah, Malaysian Dr Azahari Husin, along with two other militants were killed in a raid of a house in Malang, East Java.[12]

The police forces uncovered JI's new command structure in March 2007 and discovered a weapons depot in Java in May 2007. Abu Dujana, suspected leader of JI's military wing and its possible emir, was apprehended on June 9, 2007.[13]

As of May 2008, Indonesian police have arrested 418 suspects, of which approximately 250 have been tried and convicted. According to sources within Detachment 88, the JI organisation has been "shrunk", and many of its top operatives have been arrested or killed.[10]

On July 17, 2009, two blasts ripped two Jakarta hotels, JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, killing seven.[14] It was the first serious attack for the country in the last five years. The police stated that it was committed by a splinter, yet more radical, group of JI, led by the man dubbed as the most wanted terrorist in Southeast Asia, Noordin Top. Top was killed in a raid two months later on September 17, 2009 in Solo, Central Java.[15] All members of his cell were either killed or captured, including the recruiter and field coordinator of the attack, Ibrohim, killed on August 12, 2009,[16] and the one said to be his successor, Syaifudin Zuhri, killed on October 9, 2009. After Top, many believed that terrorism in Indonesia had run out of charismatic leaders, and grew insignificant. According to South East Asian terrorism expert and director of South East Asia International Crisis Group, Sidney Jones, Top's death was "a huge blow for the extremist organizations in Indonesia and the region".[17]

On March 9, 2010, Dulmatin, a senior figure in the militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and one of the most wanted terrorists in Southeast Asia was killed in a police raid in Pamulang, Jakarta by Detachment 88.[18]

List of attacks

Date Prov. Location Deaths Injuries Type Perpetrator Description
28 March 1981 Garuda Indonesia Flight 206 6 2 Hijacking Commando Jihad -- Airports & Airlines
A group called Commando Jihad hijacked the DC-9 "Woyla" en route from Palembang to Medan, and ordered the crew to fly the aircraft to Colombo, Sri Lanka. The hijackers demanded the release of Commando Jihad members imprisoned in Indonesia, and US $ 1.5 million, as well as an aircraft to take those prisoners to an unspecified destination. One of the Kopassus commandos was shot, probably by his comrades, as was the pilot, also probably by Kopassus commandos. The rest of the hostages were released unharmed. Two of the hijackers surrendered, but they were killed by the Kopassus commandos on the plane taking them back to Jakarta.[19]
21 January 1985 Borobudur 0 0 Improvised Explosive Device Husein Ali Al Habsyie -- Religious figures & institutions
Nine stupas and Buddha statues on upper rounded terraces of Arupadhatu in Borobudur were badly damaged by nine bombs.[20][21]
15 March 1985 Banyuwangi 7 14 Improvised Explosive Device Mochammad Achwan -- Transport
An explosive device, composed of TNT PE 808/Dahana type, detonated on board a bus that had been en route to Bali. Four innocent passengers on the vehicle were killed, along with the three terrorists tasked with carrying out the attack. Mochammad Achwan was accused of providing the bombs for the attack, the intended target of the weapons the popular tourist beach at Kuta.[22]
19 April 1999 Merdeka Square 0 4 Improvised Explosive Device - -- Religious figures & institutions
Istiqlal Mosque. [23]
1 August 2000 Menteng 2 21 Car bomb - -- Diplomatic
A bomb detonated outside the official residence of the Philippines Ambassador to Indonesia, Leonides Caday, in Menteng, Jakarta. The bomb killing two and injuring 21 others.[24]
14 September 2000 South Jakarta 15 27 Car bomb Jemaah Islamiyah -- Business
A car bomb exploded in the basement of the Jakarta Stock Exchange, triggering a chain of explosions in which a number of cars caught fire. Most of the dead were drivers waiting by their employer's cars.[25][26]
24 December 2000 Sukabumi 3 20 Improvised explosive device Jemaah Islamiyah -- Religious figures & institutions
Gereja Sidang Kristos Church.
24 December 2000 Bandung 4 2 Improvised explosive device Jemaah Islamiyah -- Religious figures & institutions
24 December 2000 Jakarta 4 18 Car bomb Jemaah Islamiyah -- Religious figures & institutions
Santo Yosef Church,
24 December 2000 Pekanburu 5 8 Improvised explosive device Jemaah Islamiyah -- Religious figures & institutions
Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church.
10 May 2001 Setiabudi 2 2 Improvised explosive device - -- Government institutions
Iskandar Muda Aceh Dormitory.[27]
22 July 2001 Duren Sawit 0 43 Improvised explosive device - -- Religious figures & institutions
Santa Ana Church.[28]
3 April 2002 Ambon City 4 58 Improvised explosive device - -- Private citizens & property

[29]

5 June 2002 Poso 5 17 Improvised explosive device - -- Transport

[30][31]

12 July 2002 Poso 1 5 Improvised explosive device - -- Transport

[30]

8 August 2002 Poso 1 4 Improvised explosive device - -- Transport
4 September 2002 Ambon City 4 - Improvised explosive device - -- Private citizens & property
Stadium.[32]
12 October 2002 Kuta Beach 202 250+ Truck bomb & Suicide bomb Jemaah Islamiyah -- Private citizens & property (Foreign tourists)
The coordinated bomb attacks occurred on in the tourist district of Kuta, Bali. The attack was claimed as the deadliest act of terrorism in the history of Indonesia according to the current police general, killing 202 people, (including 88 Australians, and 38 Indonesian citizens).[33] A further 240 people were injured. Various members of Jemaah Islamiyah, a violent Islamist group, were convicted in relation to the bombings, including three individuals who were sentenced to death.
5 December 2002 Makassar 3 15 Suicide bombing Laskar Jundullah Islamic Militia -- Private citizens & property
Three people, including the suicide bomber, were killed when a bomb detonated in the McDonalds' restaurant at the Ratu Indah shopping mall. Galazi bin Abdul Somad, a member of the Laskar Jundullah Islamic Militia, was sentenced to eighteen years in prison for his role in this attack.[34]
26 April 2003 Soekarno–Hatta International Airport 0 11 Improvised explosive device Jemaah Islamiyah -- Private citizens & property
Bomb allegedly set by the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group detonates at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Indonesia's main airport, injuring eleven people.[35]
5 August 2003 Setiabudi 12 150 Car bomb Jemaah Islamiyah -- Private citizens & property (Foreign tourists)
A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside the lobby of the JW Marriott Hotel, killing twelve people and injuring 150. The hotel located on Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, Indonesia. All those killed were Indonesian with the exception of one Dutch businessman, one Danish, and two Chinese tourists.[36]
31 December 2003 Peureulak 10 45 Improvised explosive device -- Private citizens & property
The bombing occurred during a concert at a night market in Peureulak, Aceh,[37][38] killed at least 10 people, including three children, and wounded 45 others.[39] The Indonesian military blamed Free Aceh Movement (GAM) for the attack.
10 January 2004 Palopo 4 3 Improvised explosive device - -- Private citizens & property
9 September 2004 Setiabudi 9 150 Car bomb Jemaah Islamiyah -- Diplomatic
A one-tonne car bomb, which was packed into a small delivery van, exploded outside the Australian embassy at Kuningan District, South Jakarta, at about 10:30 local time (03:30 UTC), killing 9 people including the suicide bomber, and wounding over 150 others.[40] Jemaah Islamiyah claimed responsibility for the attack.[41]
13 November 2004 Poso 6 3 Improvised explosive device - -- Transport
Six people were killed and three injured when an improvised explosive device planted in a bus exploded in Poso, Central Sulawesi.[42]
28 May 2005 Tentena 22 90 Improvised explosive device - -- Private citizens & property
Two improvised explosive devices, set to explode 15 minutes apart, detonated during the morning at a market in the center of Tentena, Central Sulawesi, killing 22 and wounding at least 40 more.[43]
31 December 2005 Kuta & Jimbaran 23 100 Suicide bombing Jemaah Islamiyah -- Private citizens & property (Foreign tourists)
Series of suicide bomb and a series of car bombs exploded at two sites in Jimbaran Beach Resort and in Kuta, Bali. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 20 people and injured more than 100 others. The three bombers also died in the attacks.[44]
31 December 2005 Palu 8 53 Nail bomb -- Private citizens & property
An improvised explosive device detonated within a butcher's market in Palu, Central Sulawesi, killing eight people and wounding a further 53.[45]
17 July 2009 Setiabudi 9 53 Suicide bombing Jemaah Islamiyah -- Private citizens & property (Foreign tourists)
The JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Jakarta, were hit by separate suicide bombings five minutes apart. Three of the seven victims who were killed were Australians, two from the Netherlands, and one each from New Zealand and Indonesia. More than 50 people were injured in the blasts.[46]
15 April 2011 Cirebon 1 26 Suicide bombing - -- Government institution
A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in a mosque in a police compound in the city of Cirebon, in West Java, during Friday prayer. The bomber was killed and at least 28 people were injured.[3][4]
25 September 2011 Solo 1 14 Suicide bombing - -- Religious figures & institutions
A suicide bomb exploded in Bethel Injil Church in Sepenuh, Solo, Central Java. The blast killed the bomber and injured 14 people.[47]
16 October 2012 Poso 2 0 Small arms fire - -- Government institution
Police discovered two corpses of murdered policemen that has been missing three days earlier in Tamanjeka village. The pair went missing during investigation mission on suspected terrorist training ground in a Poso Regency forest.[5]
2 June 2013 Poso 1 1 Suicide bombing - -- Government institution

[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Commemoration of 3rd anniversary of bombings". AAP (The Age Newspaper). 10 December 2006.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Travel Warning: Indonesia" (Press release). US Embassy, Jakarta. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 26 December 2006.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Suicide Bomber Praying as He Detonates Bomb: Survivor". The Jakarta Globe. April 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Arnaz, Farouk (April 15, 2011). "Update: Explosion Was Suicide Attack, Indonesian Police Say". The Jakarta Globe.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Dua polisi yang hilang di Poso ditemukan tewas". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). 16 October 2012.
  6. ↑ "Polisi kejar pelaku penembakan pesawat di Papua". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). 8 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tiga polisi Papua tewas diserang di Pirime Jayawijaya". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). 27 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Vickers, Adrian (2005). A History of Modern Indonesia. Cambridge University Press. pp. 218–219. ISBN 0-521-54262-6.
  9. ↑ Vickers, Adrian (2005). A History of Modern Indonesia. Cambridge University Press. p. 219. ISBN 0-521-54262-6.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 McDonald, Hamish (30 June 2008). "Fighting terror with smart weaponry". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 17.
  11. ↑ "Police to quiz Bali 'mastermind'". BBC News. November 25, 2002. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "'Bali bomb maker' believed dead". BBC News. November 10, 2005. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  13. ↑ Southeast Asian Terrorist Leader Is Under Arrest. Retrieved on June 14, 2007.
  14. ↑ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/fears-for-australians-after-jakarta-bomb-blasts/story-0-1225751335120
  15. ↑ "Noordin M Top Killed, Indonesian Police Chief Confirms | The Jakarta Globe". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "- National - Tempo.Co :: Indonesian News Portal". Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Reuters.com". Reuters. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  18. ↑ Bali bomber mastermind Dulmatin 'killed in shoot-out' Times Online 2010-03-09
  19. ↑ Conboy, Ken (2003), Kopassus: Inside Indonesia's Special Forces Equinox Publishing, ISBN 979-95898-8-6pp.277–288
  20. ↑ "1,100-Year-Old Buddhist Temple Wrecked By Bombs in Indonesia". The Miami Herald. 22 January 1985. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  21. ↑ "Teror Bom di Indonesia (Beberapa di Luar Negeri) dari Waktu ke Waktu" (in Indonesian). Tempo Interaktif.com. 17 April 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  22. ↑ Witular, Rendi A. (27 August 2010). "Shoemaker stoking the flames of sharia state". Jakarta Post. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  23. ↑ "Explosion rocks Istiqlal Mosque". Jakarta Post. 20 April 1999. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  24. ↑ "Bomb blast at home of Philippines ambassador to Indonesia". The Independent.ie. 2 August 2000. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  25. ↑ Bomb blast in Jakarta stock exchange ABC Radio September 14, 2000
  26. ↑ Two jailed for stock exchange bombing BBC News August 20, 2001
  27. ↑ "Two killed, 2 injured in Guntur bomb blast". The Jakarta Post. 11 May 2001. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  28. ↑ "Bombs at 2 Jakarta Churches Injure 43". Los Angeles Times. 22 July 2001. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  29. ↑ "Three suspects named in Ambon bombing". The Jakarta Post. 5 April 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "Poso back to normal after bomb blast". The Jakarta Post. 14 July 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  31. ↑ "Bomb rips bus, kills four in Indonesia". UPI. 6 June 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  32. ↑ "Death toll from explosion in Indonesia's Ambon rises to four". Xinhua Online. 6 September 2002. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  33. ↑ "Bali death toll set at 202". BBC News. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  34. ↑ "Six McDonald's bombing suspects go on trial in Makassar". Jakarta Post. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  35. ↑ "Jakarta airport bomb blast injures 11". ABC News Auatralia. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  36. ↑ "Indonesia considers measures after attack" Taipai Times/Reuters 14 August 2003
  37. ↑ "9 dead as bomb ends Aceh New Year's concert". ABC Australia. AFP. 1 January 2004. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  38. ↑ "Deadly blast, accidents mar New Year's Eve". The Jakarta Post. 2 January 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  39. ↑ "10 Killed and 45 Wounded by Bomb in Indonesia". New York Times. 2 January 2004. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  40. ↑ Dillon, Paul (9 September 2004). "Blast rocks Jakarta near Australian Embassy". USA Today. Retrieved 21 March 2007.
  41. ↑ Ressa, Maria (9 September 2004). "JI 'claims Jakarta car bombing'". CNN. Archived from the original on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  42. ↑ Sangadji, Ruslan (21 November 2004). "Two Poso men released, no link to terror bomb found". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  43. ↑ "Bomb blasts kill at least 22 in Indonesia". Associated Press via msnbc.com. 28 May 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  44. ↑ CNA
  45. ↑ "Bombing kills eight at Indonesian market". USA Today. Associated Press. 31 January 2005. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  46. ↑ Brown, David (2009-07-17). "Eight dead in bomb blasts at Jakarta hotels". London: The Times. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
  47. ↑ "Bom guncang gereja di Solo". BBC Indonesia (in Indonesian). 25 September 2011.
  48. ↑ "Suicide bomber attacks Indonesia police station". Philippine Inquirer. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2011.