Mujahedeen KOMPAK
Mujahedeen KOMPAK or KOMPAC is a
Background of regional tension
KOMPAK, an acronym for Komite Aksi Penanggulangan Akibat Krisis or "the Crisis Management/Prevention Committee" is based in Central Sulawesi, a poor region midway between the Christian north and Muslim south.[1]
The Sulawesi regency of
This escalated to violence in 1999, following another reported attack on a Muslim by a Christian at Lombogia bus terminal. Several churches in were burned, and many Christian residents moved to the predominantly Christian district of North Pamona.
In April 2000 "Christian youth leaders" came from outside Poso to assist students in a Catholic dormitory after they reported being threatened by Muslims. It was reported that dozens of armed Christians marched in the street, calling themselves the "Bat Paramilitary Troops."[2] Many KOMPAK recruits have family members killed during the a May/June 2000 series of attacks on Muslims that followed this.[3]
In December 2001 following hundreds of deaths, local leaders drew up a peace agreement, the Malino II Accord (signed in February 2002), leading to a large reduction in such violence.[4]
KOMPAK and Jemaah Islamiyah
KOMPAK formed as a splinter group of leaders from Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) who grew impatient with the perceived bureaucratic nature of that organisation. In contrast to JI’s focus on religious indoctrination, Mujahidin KOMPAK is focused on members being able to fight as quickly as possible, and its members train in militant camps in Mindanao and Afghanistan. It is seen as "leaner, meaner, and quicker."[3]
Central to the creation of KOMPAK was to build the ability of local groups to campaign without external assistance. In this manner KOMPAK serves as a
While KOMPAK often functions as the local agent of JI, the leadership reflects differences over longer-term strategies on waging
Charitable donations
The major source of funding for South East Asian jihadist groups are donations. While some are from individuals who overtly support a group's extra-legal activities,
In 2000, Muslim Aid Australia based in
Part of the money was used KOMPAK in the production of videos that, according to the organisation’s deputy chairman, "document the events that took place." These show Jemaah Islamiah members in activities against local Christians, and were later used in JI recruitment drives, the KOMPAK logo still in place.
In 2003,
Activities
Although smaller in number and with less political clout then JI, KOMPAK's members willingness to engage in direct violence has made them a threat to the region's stability. In November 2001, two KOMPAK members of used a
In October 2005, KOMPAK made its highest profile single attack to date, in which
References
- ^ a b Terrorism Knowledge Base, "Mujahideen KOMPAK" [1] Last accessed 9 January 2007
- ^ Ruslan Sangadji and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, "Who's behind the Poso, Palu violence this time?" "The Jakarta Post - the Journal of Indonesia Today". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-01-10. Last accessed 9 January 2007
- ^ Global Security.org [2]Last accessed 9 January 2006
- ^ a b c Indonesia Backgrounder: Jihad in Central Sulawesi, International Crisis Group "International Crisis Group - Indonesia Backgrounder: Jihad in Central Sulawesi". Archived from the original on 2007-01-09. Retrieved 2007-01-10. Last accessed 9 January 2006
- Scotsman.com [3]Last accessed 9 January 2006
- ^ a b Nick McKenzie, "Claim money from Aust sent to organisations linked to terrorism," Australian Broadcasting Corporation [4] Last accessed 9 January 2007
- ^ Sally Neighbour , "The Australian Connections" Australian Broadcasting Corporation [5] Last accessed 9 January 2007
- ^ Sidney Jones, "Terrorism's toxic strains," The Age [6] Last accessed 9 January 2006
- Overseas Security Advisory Council, "Three Christian schoolgirls beheaded in Indonesia" [7][permanent dead link] Last accessed 9 January 2006
- ^ "Alert after Indonesia beheadings," BBC News [8] Last accessed 9 January 2006