Polri: The JI Group Has Recruited Young Terrorists For 9 Years

Police Headquarters

JAKARTA - Densus 88 Anti-terror has revealed that the terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) has been recruiting young terrorists through Islamic boarding schools since 9 years ago. The selected students are then specially trained.

"The recruitment of the younger generation of JI has been since 2011," said Head of Public Relations of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono to reporters, Monday, December 28.

So far, said Argo, dozens of young terrorists have been recruited. They are specially trained in several different locations. Based on the examination of terrorist convict Joko Priyono alias Karso, there are 12 training locations, one of which is in Gintungan Village, Bandungan, Semarang, Central Java.

Even to train young terrorists, Karso appointed several trainers. They teach the young terrorists how to defend themselves, using sharp weapons and fire to making bombs.

"Pak Karso recruits participants, he also recruits trainers. There are 8 trainers recruited by Pak Karso, these are used to train students (young terrorists)," said Argo.

Argo said there were 96 young terrorists who had been recruited. But only a large part of them went to Syria. This is because the rest had already been arrested before departing.

"Of the 96 who then left for Syria, there were 66. And of course why 66? Why not 96? Because we have arrested some," he said.

Previously, Densus 88 Anti-terror revealed the results of an investigation into the funding of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network. This group raises hundreds of millions of money to send the young terrorists to Syria.

"Around Rp. 300 million to dispatch to Syria for 10 to 12 people (young terrorists)," said Argo.

In raising a lot of money, continued Argo, this terrorist group received donations from its followers. Based on the results of the investigation of terrorist prisoners Joko Priyono alias Karso the number of followers of this group reached thousands of people.

"Funding comes from its members. About 6 thousand active members," said Argo.

The followers of this group are quite generous. Because, not infrequently some of them contributed up to tens of millions of rupiah. But not a few also contributed hundreds of thousands.

The use of that money is not only for dispatching young terrorists. This is because the money is used to pay for their training.

"But many also send not one hundred thousand, some 10 to 25 million, varies," said Argo

"Rp.65 million to pay for the coach, to eat during the training and also to buy medicine," he continued.