Getting To Know Jamaah Islamiyah: The Mastermind Of Bali's Bombings To JW Marriott

A number of former members of Jamaah Islamiyah throughout Jabodetabek participated in the disbandment and pledge of allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia at the Hajj Embarkation Dormitory in Bekasi, West Java, Sunday (8/9/2024). (ANTARA/Fakhri Hermansyah)

JAKARTA - The ideology of Pancasila often gets criticism. The phrase of Belief in One God is opposed. Hardline Islamic groups actually tried to force Indonesia to become an Islamic state. This condition was then fought by the presence of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group.

The organization is predicted to be supported directly by terrorist networks, Al Qaeda. A narrative that has made JI members move to spread terror in Indonesia. They became the mastermind behind the presence of the Bali Bombing terror action to JW Marriott.

The results of the Jakarta Charter and the implementation of Pancasila have often sparked conflict since 1945. In the past, when national figures argued regarding the phrase 'first precept of God' with an obligation, carrying out Islamic law for its adherents had a long tail. The precept turned into God Almighty.

This means that Indonesia will not become an Islamic state. This condition has made many people try to sue Pancasila. Some are trying to be part of Darul Islam or better known as the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) group.

Pancasila also survived even though it was repeatedly tested for time. The eruptions of dissatisfaction were successfully disrupted by the government. However, that doesn't mean the protest will no longer appear. They continue to protest in various ways.

The most memorable protest was the emergence of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) organization in 1993. The presence of the organization initiated by Abdullah Sungkar and Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. One of the goals of JI is to build Khilafah in Indonesia.

They want to enforce the banner of Islam rahmatan lil'alamin. JI is also predicted to be actively sending people to help the Mujahideen to Afghanistan. JI has never been bothered about funding matters.

Those who join JI have many skills to earn money. Even money is sometimes also obtained from the Al Qaeda terrorist group led by the most wanted person in the world, Osama bin Laden. JI is getting bigger and immediately recruit new members.

Sometimes these members often interpret JI's ideals. They want to make Indonesia an Islamic country. Even though the path used is a path of violence.

This can be called a statement that is quite harsh, but that does not mean it violates the law. The problem is the matter of interpretation and implementation in the real world. Because, all the pills contain words that have multiple meanings, even more.

"Then its embodiment may depend heavily on the individual condition of its followers. Those who are revolutionary blood will believe it as justification to seize power by means of violence, while those who have evolutionary understanding will carry it out much more gently," wrote Tempo magazine report entitled Tracing Traces of Jamaah Islamiyah (2002).

JI has become one of the organizations that spread terror in the archipelago. His actions that forced the will made the government frantic in repelling terror attacks. This condition was widely shown in the era of Megawati Soekarnoputri's government.

In addition, Indonesia was once saddened by being the target of JI terror. The worst terrorist activity was the Bali Bombing I on October 12, 2002. The bomb exploded at three points, including at the Sari Club, Paddy's Pub, and near the office of the United States Consulate.

The bombing made victims fall. Hundreds of lives died. Those who were injured reached hundreds of people. Grief also enveloped all of Indonesia. The Indonesian government immediately hunted down the perpetrators of the bombing.

Not finished mourning, Indonesia was again shocked by the bomb that exploded at JW Marriott, Jakarta on August 5, 2003. The bomb killed 12 people and injured 145 people. The Indonesian government is also increasingly convinced that the perpetrators of the bombing are JI sympathizers.

JI terror continues. The Australian Embassy was also the target of terror on September 9, 2004. The bomb that exploded left 11 people dead and 154 injured. Those who died were the embassy security officers, visa applicants, and local residents. The Bali II Bombing action followed afterwards.

The Indonesian government did not remain silent. One after another the perpetrators of the bombing were hunted through the special team Densus 88. Some were arrested. Some were killed in the pursuit. Those who carried out the terror while giving an illustration that the bombing tragedy was being masterminded by JI.

In the case of Indonesia there has never been a declaration from the group/organization responsible, except from the documents confiscated by investigators and the confessions of the suspects (Amrozi and his friends) called JI. Their struggle is against' the tyranny of superpowers which are seen as taking policies that mendzolimize Muslims, such as in Israel, Afghanistan, Iraq, and others.

"The struggle is in line with the Osama bin Laden movement, so it means that the movement is an international movement (some of the perpetrators are the dropouts from the Afghan struggle) who chose Indonesia as a battlefield," said Tito Karnavian as quoted by Syaefurrahman Al Banjary and Suryadi in the book In the Terrorism Circular (2018).