• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO07034 | Ji’s New Military Division: A Preliminary Assessment
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO07034 | Ji’s New Military Division: A Preliminary Assessment
    Evan A. Laksmana

    27 April 2007

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Commentary

    IN MARCH, the Indonesian police killed one suspected terrorist and arrested several others in a series of operations in Central and East Java. Those targetted were part of the JI network of Abu Dujana, Indonesia’s second most wanted terrorist. Weapons, ammunition, explosives, chemicals, detonators and documents were also seized. One of the documents outlined a new military division within JI. Clearly, despite the arrests of several hundred of its members since 2002, JI not only continues to be active but also managed to reorganize itself. What are the implications and threat posed by this new military division? What could be done then to manage the problem?

    The New Military Division: Implications and Threat

    The new JI structure, which has been operational since August 2006, is still led by a central command council controlling five divisions — propagation, education, economy, information, and military. It was the military division, allegedly headed by Abu Dujana, that has changed.

    The division now consists of several areas of operations called Ishobah (the term mantiqi is gone): Ishobah bin Haristah (covering Surakarta), Ishobah Jafar bin Abi Thalib (covering Semarang), and Ishobah Abdullah bin Rowiyah (covering Surabaya). Reportedly there is one more Ishobah covering Jakarta. Under the Ishobah are units of around 10 men responsible for specific tasks, such as logistics.

    There are several implications of this new military division. First, the compact structure poses a bigger threat since the operational units are smaller, possibly more lethal, and better organized. The new structure was designed to adapt to the difficult environment, partly caused by counter-terrorism (CT) measures and partly by the split within JI.

    Second, the new localized operational area shows that JI might be changing its focus from the regional and even national objective to a more limited localized group focusing on local issues. This appears to be a tactical shift, one that hopes to allow for increased activity – while at the same time regrouping. This also indicates a change in the possible target areas, with the attacks likely to be small-scale. However, a small-scale attack in a major Javanese city could still have significant impact.

    Third, the shift back to Java — their “home base” — seems to show that they are more interested in consolidation rather than opening a new jihadi front in Poso for example.

    Finally, the structure may be an attempt to “formally” sideline the weakened Noordin Top. Many JI leaders have been unhappy with Noordin because he never reported his activities and never asked permission for his “uncoordinated” bombing operations.

    Meanwhile, the threat posed by the new division could be seen through their activities, intended targets, and the opportunity to attack. The main duty was to regain JI’s strength by recruiting and training new members, as well as collecting and distributing weaponry and explosives. The training includes how to use and assemble rifles, sniping, and bomb-making as well as counter-intelligence techniques to make them harder to detect.

    Their sniping and weapons skills could be used for assassinations or during police raids. Their bomb-making skills are lethal since they trained with Azahari Hussin, JI’s bomb expert who was killed in a raid by security forces in East Java in 2005. The chemicals seized indicate a possibility, albeit remote, that they possess or are trying to acquire the capability to produce liquid chemical bombs.

    Meanwhile, their intended targets are discomforting. The anti-terrorism measures must have been strong enough that JI has shifted to less guarded targets such as hotels, hospitals and universities, as well as local figures and mid-level government officials. This could make their pattern of operations harder to predict.

    Therefore, the opportunities to launch attacks are considerably higher than before. However, after the arrests, their first priority would be to run and then regroup. If the CT measures are maintained, such opportunities would be minimized for the near future, although they cannot be completely prevented.

    The Way Forward: A National Strategy?

    The government should step up operational counter-terrorism efforts to disrupt the entire network before JI moves from what may seem as its strategic pause, to a more offensive posture.

    However, as long as JI survives and adapts, the problem of terrorism in Indonesia remains. Thus, the Indonesian government should come up with something beyond anti and counter- terrorism efforts, no matter how successful they may seem in the short-term. The focus should now be on strategic counter-terrorism – that is counter strategies aimed to transform the environment breeding terrorism and extremism. Such efforts are aimed at the underlying conditions and support structures that enable the terrorist groups to mobilize and strike.

    For instance, the government could develop counter-ideological responses together with economic and educational development, complemented by public advocacy aimed at the local communities. This would mitigate local grievances while creating a hostile environment to the terrorist groups.

    These strategic efforts however should be done in a concerted manner along with anti and counter-terrorism measures. Thus, it is essential that the Indonesian government outline a national strategy to eradicate terrorism. This national strategy should not only include anti- terrorism and operational counter-terrorism measures, but also incorporate strategic counter- terrorism.

    About the Author

    Evan A. Laksmana is a research analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. 

    Categories: Commentaries / Country and Region Studies / Terrorism Studies / Southeast Asia and ASEAN

    Last updated on 07/10/2014

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Commentary

    IN MARCH, the Indonesian police killed one suspected terrorist and arrested several others in a series of operations in Central and East Java. Those targetted were part of the JI network of Abu Dujana, Indonesia’s second most wanted terrorist. Weapons, ammunition, explosives, chemicals, detonators and documents were also seized. One of the documents outlined a new military division within JI. Clearly, despite the arrests of several hundred of its members since 2002, JI not only continues to be active but also managed to reorganize itself. What are the implications and threat posed by this new military division? What could be done then to manage the problem?

    The New Military Division: Implications and Threat

    The new JI structure, which has been operational since August 2006, is still led by a central command council controlling five divisions — propagation, education, economy, information, and military. It was the military division, allegedly headed by Abu Dujana, that has changed.

    The division now consists of several areas of operations called Ishobah (the term mantiqi is gone): Ishobah bin Haristah (covering Surakarta), Ishobah Jafar bin Abi Thalib (covering Semarang), and Ishobah Abdullah bin Rowiyah (covering Surabaya). Reportedly there is one more Ishobah covering Jakarta. Under the Ishobah are units of around 10 men responsible for specific tasks, such as logistics.

    There are several implications of this new military division. First, the compact structure poses a bigger threat since the operational units are smaller, possibly more lethal, and better organized. The new structure was designed to adapt to the difficult environment, partly caused by counter-terrorism (CT) measures and partly by the split within JI.

    Second, the new localized operational area shows that JI might be changing its focus from the regional and even national objective to a more limited localized group focusing on local issues. This appears to be a tactical shift, one that hopes to allow for increased activity – while at the same time regrouping. This also indicates a change in the possible target areas, with the attacks likely to be small-scale. However, a small-scale attack in a major Javanese city could still have significant impact.

    Third, the shift back to Java — their “home base” — seems to show that they are more interested in consolidation rather than opening a new jihadi front in Poso for example.

    Finally, the structure may be an attempt to “formally” sideline the weakened Noordin Top. Many JI leaders have been unhappy with Noordin because he never reported his activities and never asked permission for his “uncoordinated” bombing operations.

    Meanwhile, the threat posed by the new division could be seen through their activities, intended targets, and the opportunity to attack. The main duty was to regain JI’s strength by recruiting and training new members, as well as collecting and distributing weaponry and explosives. The training includes how to use and assemble rifles, sniping, and bomb-making as well as counter-intelligence techniques to make them harder to detect.

    Their sniping and weapons skills could be used for assassinations or during police raids. Their bomb-making skills are lethal since they trained with Azahari Hussin, JI’s bomb expert who was killed in a raid by security forces in East Java in 2005. The chemicals seized indicate a possibility, albeit remote, that they possess or are trying to acquire the capability to produce liquid chemical bombs.

    Meanwhile, their intended targets are discomforting. The anti-terrorism measures must have been strong enough that JI has shifted to less guarded targets such as hotels, hospitals and universities, as well as local figures and mid-level government officials. This could make their pattern of operations harder to predict.

    Therefore, the opportunities to launch attacks are considerably higher than before. However, after the arrests, their first priority would be to run and then regroup. If the CT measures are maintained, such opportunities would be minimized for the near future, although they cannot be completely prevented.

    The Way Forward: A National Strategy?

    The government should step up operational counter-terrorism efforts to disrupt the entire network before JI moves from what may seem as its strategic pause, to a more offensive posture.

    However, as long as JI survives and adapts, the problem of terrorism in Indonesia remains. Thus, the Indonesian government should come up with something beyond anti and counter- terrorism efforts, no matter how successful they may seem in the short-term. The focus should now be on strategic counter-terrorism – that is counter strategies aimed to transform the environment breeding terrorism and extremism. Such efforts are aimed at the underlying conditions and support structures that enable the terrorist groups to mobilize and strike.

    For instance, the government could develop counter-ideological responses together with economic and educational development, complemented by public advocacy aimed at the local communities. This would mitigate local grievances while creating a hostile environment to the terrorist groups.

    These strategic efforts however should be done in a concerted manner along with anti and counter-terrorism measures. Thus, it is essential that the Indonesian government outline a national strategy to eradicate terrorism. This national strategy should not only include anti- terrorism and operational counter-terrorism measures, but also incorporate strategic counter- terrorism.

    About the Author

    Evan A. Laksmana is a research analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, NTU. 

    Categories: Commentaries / Country and Region Studies / Terrorism Studies

    Last updated on 07/10/2014

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    CO07034 | Ji’s New Military Division: A Preliminary Assessment

    Commentary

    IN MARCH, the Indonesian police kil ...
    more info