The 9th International Convention of Asia Scholars 5th – 9th July 2015, Adelaide, Australia The U.S. Counter Terrorism Strategy in Southeast Asia: The Success of Indonesia’s Detachment 88 Bama Andika Putra MA International Relations Candidate Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia Student ID Number: 665610 Email: bama_andika@yahoo.com

Introduction and theoretical framework Introduction : U.S. Counter Terrorism efforts in Southeast Asia in the period of 2001-2011, aimed towards Al-Qaeda affiliated organizations Theoretical Framework : Terrorism in International Relations, a constructivist approach, and the evolution of the terrorism concept

US Counter Terrorism Efforts in Southeast Asia

Nature of terrorism in Southeast Asia Southeast Asia as the “Second Front” of the war on terrorism : region of safe haven for Al-Qaeda and other Islamic fundamentalist groups Southeast Asia: Decades of indigenous radical Islamist groups : roots based on the war in Afghanistan 1980s, which established early relationships between SEA Islamist groups, and the future core of Al-Qaeda : Provision of critical trainings, resources and guidance Patterns of cooperation through financial and technical supports : through the US Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance, Bureau of diplomatic Security : Rising anti-American sentiments and political sensitivity

US cooperation on Southeast Asian state’s counter terrorism measures Singapore Indonesia Philippines Thailand Malaysia

Indonesia’s War on Terror, The Success of the Indonesian Detachment 88

The Rise of Jemaah Islamiyah Roots with Darul Islam established in the 1940s, with JI formally established in 1993 by Abu Bakar Ba’asyir and Abdullah Sungkar Fundamental disagreements among the JI members : post Bali bombings of 2002, a clear division was evident between the original seniors of the organization (which wanted to focus on dakwa/ religious outreach) and the hardliners (known as free agents/ non-structural JI) which had a more coercive vision for JI UNSC Resolution 1267 (2002): JI as a terrorist organization, affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Taliban 2002 Bali bombings (202 killed) 2003 Jakarta J.W. Marriott Hotel bombing (12 killed) 2004 Australian Embassy bombing (9 killed) 2005 Bali bombing (20 killed) 2009 Jakarta J.W. Marriott Hotel bombing (7 killed)

Indonesia’s Detachment 88 Formal establishment of the Detachment 88 : 20 June 2003 Consisted of 400 personnel drawn from the elite of Indonesia’s police force Funded, equipped, and trained by the US (through the State Department’s ATA and Australian Special Forces) (source: Time.com)

Measures of counter terrorism success Noordin M. Top (2009) Umar Patek & Dulmatin (2010) Abu Dujana (2007) Azahari Husin (2005) Capturing of JI’s key figures : immense role in the terrorism attacks occurring in Indonesia (financed, operated, equipped, trained) : Abu Bakar Ba’asyir caught under charges of training and assisting the separatist movement in Aceh (sentenced to 15 years) Abu Bakar Ba’asyir

Measures of counter terrorism success Deradicalization – localized counter terrorism approach : combination of both militaristic elements of counter terrorism (raids, shoot outs) and softer approaches : by 2010, half of the approximately 400 suspected terrorists have cooperated and help running investigations Indefinite holdings of detainees? : eliminating further possibilities of radicalization through personal and religious engagement towards those detained : full religious rights to conduct prayers, and reading the Quran, discussions on the Quran, provides incentives for those that cooperate

The 9th International Convention of Asia Scholars 5th – 9th July 2015, Adelaide, Australia Thank You   The U.S. Counter Terrorism Strategy in Southeast Asia: The Success of Indonesia’s Detachment 88 Bama Andika Putra MA International Relations Candidate Faculty of Arts, University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia Student ID Number: 665610 Email: bama_andika@yahoo.com