Vital Perspective

New Poll Shows Millions in Indonesia Support Jihad, Jemaah Islamiah Attacks

An interesting new poll has been released showing that approximately 18.7 million people in Indonesia support jihad and justify bomb attacks on Indonesia's tourist island of Bali as defending the faith, a survey released on Sunday showed. Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country with 220 million people, 85 percent of which follow Islam.

"Jihad that has been understood partially and practiced with violence is justified by around one in 10 Indonesian Muslims," the Indonesian Survey Institute said in a statement. "They approved the bombings conducted ... in Bali with the excuse of defending Islam," it added, saying the percentage of such support "is very significant."

While the vast majority of Indonesia's Muslims are relatively moderate, there has been an increasingly vocal militant minority and political pressure for more laws that are in line with hardline Muslim teachings.

Bombings in Bali in October 2002 blamed on Jemaah Islamiah killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists. Suicide blasts in Bali a year ago killed 20. The survey found one in five Indonesian Muslims (37.4 million people) more generally supported the aims of Jemaah Islamiah -- which backs the creation of an Islamic superstate linking Indonesia and Malaysia, and Muslim areas in the Philippines and Thailand.

UN Human Rights Council to Meet on 'Gross Human Rights Violations by Israel'

Late yesterday, we'd heard that the Tunisian government, which chairs the group of Arab States, had requested a special session of the new UN Human Rights Council to "consider and take action on the gross human rights violations by Israel in Lebanon, including the Qana massacre, county-wide targeting of innocent civilians, and destruction of vital civilian infrastructure."

We've now been able to confirm that the request has been made, and that the session is in the logistical planning stages. The countries signing on to the Tunisian request were Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Senegal, Pakistan, China, Russia, Cuba, South Africa and Azerbaijan.

Released From Prison for Role in 2002 Bali Bombings, Ba'asyir Calls for Shariah

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, a 68-year-old cleric and the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian affiliate of al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah, was released from prison yesterday for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings.

Immediately upon his release he called on jubilant supporters to join forces for the spread of Islamic law. Wearing his trademark white skullcap and red-and-white checked shawl as he emerged from prison, a smiling Bashir said: "Let us strengthen Islamic brotherhood. We strengthen our unity for one aim -- that is Islamic Shariah."

Indonesia to Release Terrorist Spiritual Leader of Jemaah Islamiyah

Zachary Abuza at Counterterrorism Blog reports that on Wednesday, Indonesian authorities will release Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, a 68-year-old cleric and the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian affiliate of al-Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah. Ba’asyir had been serving a 25½ month sentence, on a number of charges in a four year legal saga. His release will have an important impact in counter-terror operations in Southeast Asia. More than just being a media boon for Jemaah Islamiyah and it’s affiliated organizations, it will revitalize organizations that are trying to regroup after the arrests of more than 300 members. Ba'asyir has called for the destruction of the U.S., England, Australia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. More rundown on the Ba'asyir release here.

Rumsfeld to Visit Jakarta to Discuss Terror, Iranian Nuclear Program

The Jakarta Post is reporting that Secretary Rumsfeld will pay a one-day visit to Jakarta on June 6 after a visit to Singapore to discuss U.S. military assistance to Indonesia, the war on terror and the Iranian nuclear dispute.

The visit is a sign of increasingly close relations with Indonesia -- home to the world's biggest Muslim population. Last week, Indonesian FM Hassan Wirayuda visited the U.S. to meet Secretary Rice, who had visited Indonesia in March. In February, the Bush administration proposed a six and a half fold increase in foreign military financing for Indonesia.

After Rice's visit in March, Wirayuda levied criticism over her security detail - of 18 people - at a Jakarta school. Some Indonesian legislators say the presence of her bodyguards represented an affront to Indonesian sovereignty. Earlier this month, after a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Jakarta announced its intention to go nuclear by 2015.

The State Department urges Americans to "defer non-essential travel" to the 88% Muslim country where "terrorists remain active." All U.S. citizens traveling to Indonesia are urged to "observe vigilant personal security precautions and to remain aware of the continued potential for terrorist attacks against American or other Western interests."

UPDATE 5/31 @ 10:19am: Kenneth Conboy wrote a lengthy piece for Counterterrorism Blog on militants in Indonesia that's worth the read. Fully reproduced below the fold.

Saudi's, Qatar Say OPEC Output is High Enough; Four States Miss Quotas

Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which together account for a third of OPEC's output, said members are doing enough to expand oil production capacity even as four states in the exporters group -- Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria and Indonesia -- have failed to meet their quotas since January. Crude oil in New York closed at $72.04 a barrel on Friday.

Iran, OPEC's second-largest oil producer, has seen its production capacity decline over the last 30 years from a peak of 6 million barrels a day in the mid-1970s to about 4 million today. Venezuela, OPEC's third largest oil producer, and Indonesia have seen their output capacities decline 20 percent this decade.

Saudi Oil minister Ali al-Naimi said oil producers should study future demand forecasts before boosting output capacity beyond what's already planned. "Global growth may not continue at this level for many years,'' he said in a speech today at an oil conference in Amman, Jordan.

Days After Ahmadinejad Visit, Indonesia Announces Nuclear Plans

In the wake of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad making a trip to Indonesia - which is a member of OPEC - we learn that the island country expects to go nuclear by 2015.

"We have the blueprint. We will start the construction in six or seven years," said Indonesia's Minister of Energy Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

Indonesian FM Hassan Wirayuda said on Thursday that the international community had no objection to the country's nuclear power program.

"Our country has an excellent record of compliance" with regulations of the IAEA, Wirayuda told reporters. "We have received assurances that if Indonesia wishes to have a nuclear power program, we will have no problems," he said.

Indonesian nuclear power plans were shelved in 1997 in the face of mounting public opposition and the discovery and exploitation of the large Natuna gas field. But nuclear plans were floated again last year.

Abbas Snubbed by Yudhoyono; "Tense" Domestic Situation Cited

A planned meeting between Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in Jordan has been canceled because of the "still-tense domestic situation" in the Palestinian territories.

Yudhoyono instead spoke to Abbas by telephone from Amman "to discuss alternative solutions to the decades-long [Israeli - Palestinian] conflict."

Ahmadinejad to Sign $600 Million Investment Deal in Indonesian Oil, Gas

Indonesia's oil and gas sector will get a boost from Iran next month, when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad signs a $600 million deal for investments in Indonesia's oil and gas sector during a visit next month, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday. "Iran wants to invest $200 million to fix offshore refinery platforms in Indonesia and also to invest $400 million in building a gas pipeline from South Sumatra to Batam," Yuri Thamrin said at a press briefing.

Indonesia is the sole Southeast Asian member of OPEC, but like Iran, it is a net importer of oil. Its oil industry has suffered and foreign investors have been scared away amid perceptions of rampant corruption, poor infrastructure and judicial unpredictability.

Indonesian FM Passes Judgment, Levies Criticism in Wake of Condi's Visit

Fresh off a visit by Condoleezza Rice, Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda levied criticism over the Secretary's security detail at a Jakarta school last week. Some Indonesian legislators say the presence of her bodyguards represented an affront to Indonesian sovereignty.

"I was surprised by the pictures of U.S. military officers in complete uniform and fully armed, which were published in a newspaper during (Rice's) visit to an Islamic elementary school. I agree [with legislators] that was too much," Hassan said. She was reportedly accompanied by 18 people in her security detail.

The State Department urges Americans to "defer non-essential travel" to the 88% Muslim country where "terrorists remain active." All U.S. citizens traveling to Indonesia are urged to "observe vigilant personal security precautions and to remain aware of the continued potential for terrorist attacks against American or other Western interests." Based upon that assessment, unless Condi came in with a battalion, the Indonesians need to back off their criticism.