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January 7, 2005
Group linked to al Qaeda starts 'relief' work in Aceh
Topics: Southeast Asia Earthquake and TsunamiPerhaps someone, hopefully a government or UN official, can explain why these people (Laskar Mujahidin) are allowed in the area at all especially to participate in a humanitarian effort. Only someone who has been hiding in a cave in the remotest of villages at some distant mountain top totally cut-off from the world would not know what these people are up to. Why is it that in the interest of political correctness the U.S. and other governments continue to allow these terrorists to gain footholds for future terror operations? Of course they are "spreading Islamic teachings among refugees," and we all know what these "Islamic teachings" are about. The allowance by governments for the continued spread of Islamofascism is irresponsible given what is known about terrorism and Islam in the world today. As for the background of this group we are addressing here, read the following snipets and then read the article:
(...) Laskar Mujahidin has set up four posts in Aceh, and sent more than 200 members to the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, where they have joined other aid organizations at a camp near the military airport.
(...) The militant group was founded in the late 1990s to launch attacks against priests and churches in the Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia, where large pockets of Christians live; some 9,000 people died in sectarian violence in the Malukus from 1999 to 2001.
(...) The guerrillas operated in small bands, were often described as Ninjas, and reportedly wore masks when fighting. The organization's fighters numbered about 500 at its height in mid-2000.
(...) Laskar Mujahidin was once headed by Abu Bakar Bashir, an Islamic cleric now on trial as a suspected leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, which has close links to al Qaeda. Some Jemaah Islamiyah members helped the September 11 hijackers.
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia -- An extremist Islamic group with links to al Qaeda has set up relief operations in Aceh province on Sumatra island, raising concerns that international relief workers will become terrorist targets as in Iraq.
Amid hundreds of aid workers near the airport in Banda Aceh, Laskar Mujahidin posted an English-language sign that reads "Islamic Law Enforcement."
The group, known for hunting down and killing Christians during a long-running sectarian conflict in another part of Indonesia, said yesterday it is collecting corpses, distributing food and spreading Islamic teachings among refugees.
U.S., Australian and South Korean government officials said
they were aware of security threats in the region and were taking
precautions. One major aid agency said its staff had been ordered not
to fly in U.S. helicopters.
Even if Islamic militants forgo attacking foreigners for the
time being, analysts warned that they will try to stoke anti-Western
sentiment and bide their time for a chance to strike.
A U.S. official in Aceh, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said American forces were aware of Laskar Mujahidin's presence and that it was a cause for worry.
"You've got to be on your toes," the official said. "We're watching them. Something can happen."
Lt. Cmdr. John Daniel, a spokesman for the USS Abraham Lincoln
battle group, said the Indonesian military -- which has long fought
separatist rebels in Aceh -- was helping with security.
"We feel safe with the Indonesian military there," Cmdr.
Daniel said. "We are cautious, but we're not doing anything special." Read more...
Captain Ed at Captain's Quarters has also posted on this topic today.
Also, while you are visiting Captain Ed, read his post on Kerry's Baghdad Disgrace bashing a sitting U.S. president during a time of war.
Posted by Hyscience at January 7, 2005 8:07 AM
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