Western Resistance

THE FIRST BALI BOMBINGS

Prior to the first Bali bombing, authorities in Indonesia had not aggressively pursued JI, but Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines had already recognised them as a dangerous terrorist group. The two bombs of October 12 2002, which happened in Kuta were of such ferocity that the world suddenly took notice of the group.

The first bomb, in a rucksack, was detonated electronically at 11.05pm, killing its owner and blowing apart Paddy's Bar a popular drinking haunt for tourists. As the injured customers from the first blast rushed out into the street, a second bomb, hidden in a white Mitsubishi van, exploded in front of a nightclub, the Sari Club, leaving a three foot deep crater. As injured and panicked people were confused and dying, almost simultaneosly a third bomb exploded outside the American consulate. The third bomb caused no injuries.

Many of the dead and injured suffered serious burns. They were mainly young tourists, in their 20's and 30's, and mostly from Australia, with several locals killed. 202 people died. 88 were Australian, 38 Balinese/Indonesian, 26 British, 7 American, 6 German, 5 Swedish, 4 French, 4 Dutch, 3 Danish, 3 from New Zealand, 3 Swiss, 2 Brazilian, 2 Canadian, 2 Japanese, 2 South African, 2 South Korean, with the rest being individuals from Ecuador, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Taiwan. 3 bodies were never identified. Hundreds more were injured.

The bombs were originally thought to contain C4 plastic explosive, but in the end it transpired they were manufactured from ammonium nitrate.

The immediate reaction of the United States to this event was to list Jemaah Islamiyah as a foreign terrorist organisation. The United States has maintained that JI has close links with Al Qaeda. It was only when America identified Jemaah Islamiyah as a terrorist group that the Indonesian authorities began to do anything towards curtailing their activities. Previously, it seems that they were reluctant to come down too hard on militant Islamic groups, lest they alienate Muslims. The operational head of JI was finally apprehended in Thailand on 15 August 2003. His name is Nurjaman Riduan Ismuddin, also called Hambali. In January 2003, according to CFR Terrorism, US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced that

"information indicates that Hambali was involved in a 1995 plot to bomb 11 U.S. commercial airliners in Asia and directed the late-2001 foiled plot to attack U.S. and Western interests in Singapore."

Hambali is now in American custody at an undisclosed location. According to Wikipedia the lenient treatment handed out to Abu Bakar Bashir caused the Americans to be reluctant to hand Hambali over to the Indonesian authorities.

BALI BOMB TRIALS

The trial of those suspected of involvement in the first Balinese Bombings was a fraught affair. In April 2003, Abu Bakar Bashir was charged by Indonesian authorities with treason. He was accused of trying to overthrow the government to set up an Islamic state. He was accused of a series of church bombings from Christmas 2000, and of a plot to attack US and other Western interests in SIngapore. On 2 September he was acquitted of treason but found guilty of lesser charges and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. He announced his intention to appeal. On October 15, 2004 he was once again arrested and charged with involvement with the J. W. Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta, which kiled 14 people.

When accused of the hotel bombing, Bashir was also accused of conspiracy, relating to the Balinese atrocity of 2002. According to the BBC, "In his second trial, judges said that while he had not been involved in the Bali attacks, he had given his approval. He was sentenced to 30 months in jail for being part of an "evil conspiracy".

Bashir's original sentence of two and a half years' imprisonment, imposed on March 3, 2005 has already been automatically reduced. It is customary for Indonesia to reduce "well-behaved" prisoners' sentences on religious or national holidays. On August 17, Bashir's sentence was cut by four months and fifteen days in an Independence Day gesture, granted routinely for tens of thousands of Indonesian prisoners.

Bashir nearly had an automatic reduction for a second time this year at the start of November, to coincide with another festival, that of Eid. The Australian government initially accepted the reduction as a fait accompli, but at the start of November, the Indonesian government announced that Bashir would not be getting any reduction.

The cheerful picture at the beginning of this article shows him a week or so before he returned to court to be sentenced, earlier this year.

Two others who played a part in the bombings had more straightforward trials. The young man pictured above left, known to the world as Amrozi, or Amrozi bin Haji Nurhasyim, was accused of buying the explosives and the van used in the Bali bombings. First in court on 30 April, by 8 August 2003 he had been found guilty, and sentenced to death. What was so strange was his manner of smiling and appearing happy throughout his trial. When escorted from the court, when he had been given the death sentence, he said the word "Bomb!" and burst out laughing. Amrozi was not connected to Bali until the bomb plot was hatched.. He lived in East Java city of Surabaya before and after the atack. According to CNN from that time, he had given police several names of others linked to the attack, including his brothers, friends and co-workers. He boasted that he knew top ranking individuals in Jemaah Islamiyah, including Abu Bakar Bashir, and also Hambali. He was less cooperative during the court case, seeming to enjoy the attention.

Amrozi's brother Ali Imron was accused of participating in the bombing. Because he was remorseful, he was given a more lenient sentence of life imprisonment in September that year.

The other man to be tried for the Bali atrocity was said to be, after Hambali, the "operations mastermind" in the attack, Imam Samudra, pictured right. He had been trained in Aghanistan, and was vehemently anti-American. He was surly and hardly said anything during the trial. He scowled contemptuously at photographers as he went into court. He was sentenced to death on 18 September, and a fourth man named Mukhlas was sentenced to death on October 1, 2003, exactly two years to the day before the current attacks in Bali.

So far, none of the individuals who have been handed out death sentences for their part in the Bali nombings have received their executions.

UPDATE: 2 December 2005. Three Bali Bombers to Appeal

In a surprise action, three of the individuals who were sentenced to death for their part in the Bali Bombings of 2002 have decided to seek a judicial review of their convictions, appealing against their death sentences, states the Age.

The lawyer for the three individuals, Mr Mahendradatta, announced the decision, which would effectively rule out any chance of any presidential pardon. The lawyer said that the death sentences could not be carried out until the Supreme Court made a decision on the matter.

To lodge the appeal, the three convicted men will provide written affidavits announcing their rejection of a presidential pardon.

The three men are the Jemaah Islamiyah operatives, Imran Samudra (pictured above left), Amrozi and his brother Ali Ghufron, also called Mukhlas. This appeal will be a last resort.

Imran Samudra was convicted on 10 September 2003, and when he was given his sentence, of death by firing squad, he shouted "Allah Akhbar" several times, and as he was escorted away from the courtroom, he shouted for America and Australia to "Go to Hell".

His lack of remorse remains as adamant as ever, which makes the announcement of an appeal strange. The lawyer, Mr Mahendradatta, explains: "if you seek presidential pardon it means you admit your wrongdoing."

Samudra's lack of remorse has led to his book becoming a best-seller. Called "Saya Melawan Teroris" (Me Against Terrorists), it eulogises his life as an Islamist. He appeared on Indonesian television last weekend, where he said that "in any struggle there are victims".

Another person who was on the programme was Ali Ghufron, also called Muhklas. He said he was "truly proud to be a terrorist." Echoing statements made at the time of his 2003 trial, he said "Jihad is the best way to receive blessing in Islam."

Mukhlas had been happy at the time of his sentencing on October 2, 2003. He jumped to his feet and punched the air (pictured, right). However, despite ecstatic reactions, he did announce after the sentence that he would be making an appeal, saying in a statement: "I have made the decision that, because the laws that have been used are not in accordance with my beliefs, I propose to appeal. That is all."

Throughout his court case, Mukhlas waved his arms about, and punched the air (pictured left). His brother in law, Mohammad Nasir bin Abas who was also a Jemaah Islamiyah member, testified against Mukhlas, aka Ali Ghufron.
Both Nasir bin Abas and his sister Paridah Abas who married Mukhlas, have since written books. Nasir's is called "Uncovering Jemaah Islamiyah" and Paridah's tome is entitled "People Say Father is a Terrorist." Nasir Abas has recently been assisting the police by giving information on previous tactics of Jemaah Islamiyah, in the current investigations into the bombings on Bali from October 1 this year.

Mukhlas' younger brother Amrozi was similarly ecstatic upon hearing of his death sentence on August 8, 2003. His reaction is pictured beneath. Another brother to Mukhlas and Amrozi is Ali Imron. He too was convicted of being part of the plot against Bali targets, but only received a life sentence in September, 2003, because he expressed remorse. He too appeared on the programme last weekend, but he said: "What I did in Bali was wrong. Don't follow in my footsteps. Believe me I know, because I have experienced it.."

Amrozi, according to lawyer Mr Mahendradatta, has said that his last wish is to clear the name of Abu Bakar Bashir, the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, who was sentenced for authorising the bomb blasts at Bali in 2002. Mr Mahendradatta is also the lawyer for Abu Bakar Bashir.

During his testimony against Ali Ghufron alias Mukhlas, Mohammad Nasir bin Abas stated that as a Jemaah Islamiyah member, he had gone to Abu Bakar Bashir and asked his if it would be permissable in the eyes of Allah to use a foreigner's bank card and hack into the account to steal money. Abas stated that the cleric replied "We take their blood, so why not take their money as well."

LEADERSHIP AND ORIGINS OF JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH

The name Jemaah Islamiyah has been known for a while, since the 1970's. The involvement of Abu Bakar Bashir is obvious as its spiritual leader and mentor. Many speculate that he is also an operational leader, but he has been careful to disassociate himself from being seen "carrying the explosives", so to speak. He liked to present himself as a spiritual leader, and an advocate of Sharia.

Jemaah Islamiyah descended from an older organisation called Darul Islam, which has existed for longer than the Indonesian nation. Indonesia is an archipelago of various islands and cultures, which were colonised by the Dutch. Much of the territory now known as Indonesia also fell to the Japanese during World War II. Shortly before the Japanese surrendered on August 15, 1945, Sukarno had led rebel groups which would eventually lead to the formation of Indonesia as a nation. Two weeks afer Japanese surrender he declared in Jakarta that Indonesia was a nation. At this time Darul Islam was indistinguishable from those who fought on Sukarno's side. All had opposed Japanese imperialism, all still opposed Dutch and British colonisation of the archipelago.

The transition to independence was not without bloodshed. The biggest battle took place in eastern Java, where an uprising against the British began in October of 1945, leading to a massive battle known now as the Battle of Surabaya (Nov 10 - 24), which cost thousands of lives. A rudimentary parliamentary system was established, but the Dutch launched an offensive in 1948, captured Sukarno and Hatta, his deputy, and exiled them and their associates to Northern Sumatra and the island of Bangka. Finally, in 1950 the Dutch agreed to Indonesia developing its own nation status, and Sukarno became its first president, a role he carried out for twenty years.

In this climate of battle, of fighting off an oppressor, Darul Islam was formed, and though at first it had shared aims with Sukarno's regime, it wanted the whole of Indonesia to be strictly Muslim, including the parts which were Christian, or Hindu, like Bali, where even today the indigenous population is 93% Hindu, and only 5.2% Muslim.

Abu Bakar Bashir is of Yemei descent. He was born in August, 1938 on East Java, and his other name is Abdus Somad. He is thought to have joined Darul Islam in the 1970's. He was imprisoned then for Islamic activism. In 1985 he was ordered back to jail, but escaped to Malaysia, according to CFR Terrorism. In Malaysia, Bashir recruited people to fight in Afghanistan against the Soviets, and sought funding from Saudi Arabia. Sukarno's successor, Suharto, stepped down from power in 1998, and Bashir returned to run an Islamic seminary in Solo, on the predominantly Muslim island of Java. The seminary is the infamous Ngruki or Al Mukmin pesantren (Islamic boarding school), 250 miles east of Java.

Dr Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Center states that since Ngruki was founded by Bashir and Abdullah Sungkar in the 1970s, at least 30 indicted or jailed terrorists are graduates of Ngruki. Abdullah Sungkar, now dead, fought in Afghanistan and was one of the founders of Jemaah Islamiyah.

Bashir also became the leader of the Indonesia Council of Holy Warriors or Majelis Mujahidin Indonesia.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

Just how much radical or terrorist activity either Bashir or Jemaah Islamiyah carried out in the subsequent years in Indonesia is vague. While the Philippines, who also have Abu Sayyaf to worry about, and also SIngapore and Malaysia had seen their radicalism and desire for a Southeast Asian Muslim "Superstate" as potentially threatening, and had outlawed the group, Indonesia's authorities seemed to deliberately turn a blind eye to their activities. Some Indonesian officials even denied their existence. With their ability to network between wide areas, Jemaah Islamiyah may have been instigators of vigilantism, or just an inspiration to radicalised Islamic activists. It was only when the first Bali bombs ripped apart an idyllic tourist haven that the Indonesian authorities started to take notice of their activities.

The radicalism of Jemaah Islamiyah began in terrorising earnest two years before the first Bali bombings, when on Christmas Day 2000 11 churches were bombed. Since then they have committed atrocities on a large scale, as shown in the list given above, but have also helped radicalise many others into vigilantism. The "philosophy" of Abu Bakar Bashir is probably influencing the new generation of Ulemas in Indonesia who in June announced that anyone practising variant forms of Islam should be dealt with unfairly. Through threats, through intimidation, and through atrocities, the message of radical Islam has penetrated the heart of Indonesian society. Minority muslims, such as the Ahmadiyyahs, are threatened and attacked.

We have been reporting daily news here on Western Resistance only since August 12th. A mere six and a half weeks. Use our search engine. Type in words such as "Ahmadiyyah", "Indonesia", "Ambon", and you will get a clear idea of just what is happening in Indonesia right now.

Those innocent tourists and Balinese citizens who lie in hospitals or morgues in Bali are the sign that these radicals, who have connections apparently with Al Qaeda, and also with radicals in Malaysia, the Philippines and southern Thailand, mean business. The future is one of ethnic and religious conflict. A recent report by Australia's intelligence experts, given in the Sunday Mail from 29 September this year, states

Support for terrorism among previously moderate Muslims in Southeast Asia is increasing, according to Australian Federal Police intelligence that warns Australian interests will remain vulnerable for at least a decade.

The AFP's counter-terrorism manager, Ben McDevitt, told a conference of army chiefs that the successes of police and intelligence forces around the region in disrupting operations of groups such as Jemaah Islamiah - responsible for the Bali bombings in late 2002 - were not replicated in the "war of ideology"

Two days later, Jimbaran Beach and downtown Kuta once again reverberated to the blast of Jemaah Islamiyah's expolsions of hate. It appears that Ben McDevitt's words were spoken in time, but there was no time to heed them. The events of October 1st on Bali have proved that there is no more time for prevarication or holding consultation sessions or discussion groups.

It is not just the nation of Australia who should be worried by the activities of this group, and all the other related groups who aspire to copy its actions - it is the whole free-thinking world.

THE RECENT BALI BOMBINGS

The Explosions of October 1st, And The Hunt For Suspects

The following articles are the ones we recorded at the time of the recent Bali Bombings.

October 01, 2005
Indonesia: Explosions in Bali

October 02, 2005
BALI: Islamists Claim Blasts Were Not Caused by Muslims
Indonesia: Bali Bomb Suspect's Links with UK and Bin Laden

Indonesia: Bali Bomb Suspect's Links with UK and Bin Laden

In today's Sunday Times, the suspected manufacturer of yesterday's bombs is revealed as Malaysian Azahari bin Husin (pictured), who is known in his native country as "The Bombmaker". Jemaah Islamiyah carried out the last major Balinese atrocity of 2002, and again, JI are suspected of involvement with this current series of bomb attacks. The Times revealed that Indonesia's president warned another attack may be imminent, and only five days ago the authorities were urgently trying to track down two of Jemaah Islamiyah's masterminds.

Azahari bin Husin studied in Britain in the 1990s, at Reading University, where he obtained a doctorate. In another Times article today, a brief biography of bin Husin is given. After gaining his PhD in engineering, he trained with Bin Laden. Born in Malaysia, he studied in Australia in the 1970s before arriving in Britain. He later went to Afghanistan and attended a terror camp.

An older The Age article from Australia, written in 2004 describes more of the life of "The Bombmaker'". It was written in connection with the Australian Embassy attack in Jakarta. Azahari bin Husin apparently failed his engineering degree in Adelaide in the 1980s before going to Reading where he completed his degree and doctorate, specialising in geophysics. He returned to Malaysia, where he taught with his wife at a university in the southern state of Johor.

After the birth of his second child, his wife became ill, and police have speculated whether this then affected his trajectory to terror. In the late 1990's he undertook terrorist training in Afghanistan, but also in the southern Philippines. He studied manufacture of bombs, and produced for JI a 50-page terrorist bomb manual, with diagrams and detailed instructions on the manuacture and triggering of explosive devices.

Indonesia: Bali Bombings Were "Suicide Attacks"

October 03, 2005
Bali: Death Toll Rises to 26

October 05, 2005
Indonesia: Jailed Imam Claims Bali Bombs Were "Allah's Warning"
Indonesia: Australia, UN Security Council, React to Bali Slayings

UPDATE - OCT 3

The police have released photographs of the three suicide bombers, which have been widely circulated in Indonesian newspapers, as an aid to their identification. A report by New York Post/Associated Press gives details, but no photographs. What is interesting, in the context of this report, is the news that the police have brought in a former Jemaah Islamiyah operative to help in their investigation. Nasir Abbas has given evidence at the trials of several suspected Jemaah Islamiyah members.

In all, 250 individuals belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah have been convicted, but for the most part, these have been small players in the game.

Nasir Abbas arrived on Bali two hours after the blasts, working as an informant for police, who hope his knowledge can identify whether the blasts were carried out by JI or another group.

UPDATE OCT 5

The suspicion that Jemaah Islamiyah may have been involved with Saturday's bomb blasts is heightened by the announcement in this morning's Daily Telegraph of comments made by Ali Immron, brother of the smiling Amrozi, pictured above.

"Who else if not the group of Dr Azahari?" said Ali Imron, referring to Azahari Husin, one of Indonesia's two most wanted men and Jemaah Islamiyah's top bomb-maker - whose doctorate comes from Reading University.

"It is said that there was a nine-volt battery found on the sites. If this is true then my estimate is not wrong. The use of nine-volt batteries is a trademark of Azahari," added Imron, who is serving a life sentence for assembling one of the 2002 devices and driving an explosives-packed van to the attack site.

"So far, Azahari has never stopped recruiting new people for his bombings," he said. "The three men killed could be his men."

Indonesian police have confrimed that they have discovered nine volt batteries and detonators.

Indonesia: Australia, UN Security Council, React to Bali Slayings
The United Nations Security Council has condemned Saturday's bomb atrocities, calling for the perpetrators of this "heinous act of terrorism" to be brought to justice. The 15 member Council unanimously agreed on the need to bring to account not only the perpetrators, but the organisers, financiiers and sponsors, and called on all nations to support and assist the Indonesian Government, the Hindustan Times reported today. The UNSC further stated that all acts of terrorism were "serious threats" to international peace and security, and

"any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed"

Australia has reacted strongly to the events. Prime Minister John Howard has announced that foreign minister Alexander Downer would travel to Jakarta soon to discuss Jemaah Islamiyah. According to the BBC, Howard, when discussing Jemaah Islamiyah, stated

"[Banning JI] is not the be all and end all of tackling terrorism in Indonesia, and if it remains as it is or if it is banned, in practical terms it's not going to make an enormous difference.

"The real issue is the determination of the Indonesian police and security authorities and government to crack down on the terrorist organisations, their activities rather than their structures," he said.

He further added that he did not want to start a campaign to change the laws in Indonesia.According to the Hindustan Times Howard stated "But can I just make this point again: we are having a debate, a discussion, about the laws of another country."

"The real issue is the determination of the Indonesian police and security authorities and government to crack down on the terrorist organisations, their activities rather than their structures," he said.

"The other thing of course is the ongoing success of a moderate democratic government in Indonesia."

A note here. Western Resistance wishes to point out here that, in Indonesia, there has been no government condemnation of the ruling made by the MUI - the Indonesian Ulemas Council, the country's highest Muslim council, who announced in July a fatwa declaring that liberal interpretations of Islam, secularism and pluralism were un-Islamic and therefore haram or forbidden. As a result of this, intolerance of minority and "heretical" groups, such as the Ahmaddiyah have increased.

UPDATE - OCT 11

Indonesia: Police Make First Arrest After Bali Bombings

In a report from the BBC, the first suspect has been arrested in connection with the Bali bombings which happened last weekend, on October 1. Police say the man rented one room in Denpasar with one of the suicide bombers.

"This person is strongly suspected of having links with the Bali blasts," deputy national police spokesman Sunarko Artanto said.

The arrested man, who is known only as Hasan or as HS, left Bali three days prior to the three bombs going off. He was found on Sunday in Jember, East Java. He is now being returned to Bali for questioning. The BBC states that more than 230 witnesses have been questioned since the atrocities took place.

Three men, Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Mukhlas, who were convictd of the first Bali bombings were transferred from a prison on Bali to the island of Nusakambangan. Earlier, Bali locals had held a demonstration, asking for them to be executed.

In an update to the above story (12 October), the Guardian states that the man arrested was a 45 year old construction worker and father of three. Under Indonesian anti-terror legislation, he can be held for up to seven days before charges must be filed.

STATE DEPARTMENT MAKES REWARD OFFER

In an announcement from the US State Department, dated Oct 6, a bounty has been placed on two members of Jemaah Islaniyah. A reward of up to $10 million is offered for Dulmatin, and $1 million for Umar Patek.

Dulmatin (pictured) is an electronics specialist who has trained in al-Qaida camps in Afghanistan, and is a senior figure in the organization. Patek is believed to have been actively involved in the 2002 bombings of Bali, which killed 202 people. Patek is thought to have helped the field coordinator in those attacks.

Rewards for Justice describes Dulmatin as being in his mid to late 30s, a Javanese Arabic man of brown complexion. He also goes under the alias of Almar Usman, and is sometimes known as Joko Pitoyo, Joko Pitono, Abdul Matin, Pitono, Muktarmar, Djoko or Noval.

The State Department has given an address for anyone with information:
email mail@rewardsforjustice.net or telephone (1-800-877-3927). We have one or two browsers from Indonesia. This may be a long shot, but maybe you can help.

OCT 14: JAKARTA CONSIDERS BANNING JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH, HASAN IS FREED

In a report by Raymond Bonner in the International Herald Tribune, formerly in the New York Times, it is suggested that Indonesia, which has been wary of cracking down on Islamic extremism within its borders, lest it be seen to resemble the policies under the Suharto regime, may be making moves to ban Jemaah Islamiyah. Bonner also adds that according to Reuters, hasan, the man arrested under suspicion of involvement with the attacks, was released on Thursday, 13th October. He has not been charged.

OCT 28: FORMER ISLAMIST HELPS IN BALI INQUIRY

The Australian reports that a former local leader of Jemaah Islamiyah has been helping Indonesian police in their hunt for information on the masterminds of the three bombings which happened on Bali on Saturday October 1 this year. He has been assisting police in this case since October 3.

Malaysian Nasir Abas has been sequestered into the investigation, as police are working on the assumption that the three suicide bombers were not from Indonesia, but may have been Malaysian or Filipino nationals.

The Australian claims that Abas, who is helping investigators to discover the motivations for the attack, has said that anti-Western feelings have been incited by Osama bin Laden. Abas stated that bin Laden's views hold great sway with many jihadists. He told the Australian that for the Islamists, Osama bin Laden is a "giant mujahideen".

Nasir Abas formerly headed the Jemaah Islamiyah section Mantiq Three, a region including northern Indonesia, parts of Malaysia and the Philippines. He ran Jemaah Islamiyah's Hudaibiyah military training camp in the south Philippines a decade ago. He states that trainee jihadists arrived at the camp fro instruction from different nations.

One Australian came for training in 1999 at Hudaibiyah, who had short brown hair, could not speak Indonesian, and called himself "Ali". Abas stated that he did not believe that "Ali" partook in later attacks.

Nasir Abas is the brother-in-law of Mukhlas, who masterminded the 2002 bombings on Bali, which killed 202 people. Mukhlas was sentenced to death on October 1, 2003, exactly a year before the recent Bali bombings. Abas himself was arrested in Indonesia for immigration offenses, and had been jailed for 10 months. He was released last year.

Since his release at the start of 2004, Nasir Abas has turned evidence against Jemaah Islamiyah's spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, and has assisted police in their enquiries.

The police are still nowhere nearer to their goal of finding the organisers of the Bali bomb attacks, which took place on Jimbaran beach, where tourists ate at seafood restaurants along the sand, and two other restaurants, Raja's Bar and another at Kuta, killing a total of 23 people and injuring many more. The bombers were previously thought to have had explosives which were detonated by remote control, such as cellular phones, but now it is assumed they used cords, pulled by thumbs, which triggered the explosions.

Despite offering a 100 million rupiah reward for information this week, police leads in Indonesia seem to have reached an impasse. The photographs of the the three suicide attackers' severed heads, which I have seen and which show recognisable faces, have been distributed throughout Indonesia by the police, even into remote rural regions. So far, no-one has been able to identify the heads. Copies of the police fliers have been sent to police counterparts in Malaysia and the Philippines.

Azahari bin Husin (nicknamed "the Bombmaker") and Noordin Mohammed Top, two Malaysians, are believed to be involved with the October blasts, as well as the bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in 2004, and also the 2002 Bali bombings. The Malaysian foreign minister, Syed Hamid Albar, has expressed concern at the mention of Malaysians being involved in the attacks. He protested that it was "as if the Malaysian Government that was sponsoring them."

Update: 9 November

AZAHARI BIN HUSIN IS KILLED

The news is just breaking, and will be updated as more details are known. Associated Press, in the Washington Times says that the bomber who is thought to have stage-managed the explosions on Bali in 2002, which killed 202 people, mainly Australian, has apparently detonated explosives and killed himself, rather than be captured.

Malaysian Azahari bin Husin, the "Bombmaker" for Jemaah Islamiyah was in a shoot-out with Indonesian police today at a hide-out in Malang, a resort on the island of Java, at 4pm local time.

As the shoot-out became a no-win situation for Azahari, he detonated explosives, according to Gen. Gorries Mere, the national detective deputy chief.

According to smh.com.au, the hideout was in the village of Batu at Malang, in East Java. In the explosion, two accomplices also were killed.

The house was raided initially at 3,30 pm, and witnesses told of gunshots, and at least two explosions. The area was sealed off and electricity was shut down this evening.

Update: 14 November

AZAHARI WAS SHOT - Hunt For Jemaah Islamiyah Islamist Intensifies

We reported earlier that Azahari bin Husin, the Malaysian- born "bombmaker" for Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah, blew himself up on November 9 at his hideout near Malang on the island of Java.

It appears now that Azahari had not been blown to bits by a bomb of his own accord, as previously reported. Yesterday's Sunday Times states that an autopsy on Azahari's body showed he had died from a single bullet to the heart. The article describes the surveillance of Detachment 88, the squad sent to try to pick up Azahari, who was inside the hideout with another accomplice named Arman. The pair had been calling themselves Yahyah and Budi

At 3.05pm the police shouted an ultimatum. Shots came from the house. A confused exchange of fire began. At 3.25pm a loud bang was heard, apparently from a device hurled at police.

Five minutes later a bigger blast blew the tin roof off the house and set off a series of smaller explosions. The "Demolition Man" was found in one piece, Arman in fragments. An autopsy discovered a bullet through Azahari's heart and his suicide belt intact.

In the last seconds, it seemed, it was the disciple, not the master, who had the strength to push the lethal button.

Azahari's body was identified through fingerprinting. Indonesian authorities have said that there was no need for DNA tests, and Azahari's Malaysian relatives could collect his body upon request.

In Malaysia, the Islamic opposition party, the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), has demanded proof that Azahari had been behind any terrorist bombings, states Malaysia's Daily ExpressThe newspaper quotes Abdul Hadi of PAS, who says:

"I fear the allegations against Azahari is like the allegations made against Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.

"Until today there is no proof (of his involvement). We want a fair investigation. We should not be cowed by the US which is carrying out its global agenda of imperialism."

The BBC reports today that in Indonesia, the hunt for Noordin Mohammad Top, the alleged partner in crime of Azahari, has been stepped up. Noordin Mohammad Top is believed to be a main financier and recruiter for Jemaah Islamiyah.

Indonesian police chief General Sutanto claims that security forces had traced Top to the town of Semarang, on the northern coast of central Java. The detection, which was probably by mobile phone location, which was used to trace Azahari, happened at the same time as news came of the hiding place of Azahiri.

Sutanto said that Top escaped from the house, leaving behind his personal belongings. The police found a video in the house, including footage of the three suicide bombers who caused the explosions on Bali on October 1, killing at least 20 people.

Currently police are checking cars, knocking on doors of houses and checking bus stations and railway stations for Noordin Top. The public have been asked by the head of counter-terrorism at the security ministry, Ansyad Mbai, to be vigilant, and to report any suspicious activity. He noted that neighbours at Azahari's hide-out had noticed strange occurrences, but had only mentioned these to police when the raid had finished.

At the raid on Azahari's hide-out, thirty bombs were discovered, and two computers, which hopefully will contain information on future targets, states Lt-Gen Makbul Padmanegra, a police detective chief.

Update: 17 November

NOORDIN TOP MAKES VIDEO STATEMENT

A man in a mask (pictured) from a videotape found in the hideout of Azahari bin Husin has declared war against the West, states Yahoo News. The individual is thought to be Noordin Mohammed Top, a senior figure in the leadership of Jemaah Islamiyah. The video, or at least this section, was shown on Metro TV earlier today.

Indonesian vice president, Jusuf Kalla, made the claim that the masked man may be Noordin M Top, who is seen to say:

We repeat that America, Australia, England and Italy are all our enemies. We especially remind Australia that you, Downer and Howard, are killing Australia, leading it into darkness and misfortune and mujahideen terror. Know that as long as you (all) continue to colonize the land of Iraq and Afghanistan and intimidate Muslims then you too will feel our intimidation and terror....

We remind that those who support Bush and Blair are also our enemies. The infidel rulers, the apostate rulers, those who oppress Muslims and victimize ulamas, the mujahedeen, they are our enemies too. The ones we target in our attacks

Noordin Top is said to be a prime recruiter of young men to join the ranks of Jemaah Islamiyah, who are responsible for the two Bali bomb attacks from 2002 and October 1 this year.

Also on the tape, but not yet revealed publicly, are images of the three men who carried the recent Bali bombings.

According to the BBC, the three men on the videotape, who committed the Bali bombings on October 1, have now been identified.

One of them, Muhammad Salik Firdaus, addressed his family in the video.

"My brother and wife, God willing, when you see this recording I'll already be in heaven," he said.

Bali police chief I Made Mangku Pastika said three people were currently being questioned over their role in those bombings, which killed 20 people.

"They are people that had direct contacts with Azahari and Noordin Top. They are certainly also linked to the Bali bombs," he said.

Police have named the three as Cholily alias Yahya alias Hasan, Anif alias Pendek, and Abdul Aziz.

The Hunt For Noordin Top

Nov 23: Muslim Terrorist On Death Row Is Bestselling Author

Nov 23: Three Arrested In Australian Embassy Bomb Inquiry

Nov 24: Islamist Arrested For Sheltering Noordin Top

Nov 27: Bali Islamist Killers On Prime-Time TV

Dec 01: Philippines: US Freezes Assets of Islamist Leaders

Dec 02: Bali Bomb Islamists On Death Row Will Appeal

Dec 29: Trial of Suspected Jemaah Islamiyah Islamist

Dec 30: Indonesia: Christians Killed In Bomb Attack - Are Islamists To Blame?

Jan 02: Indonesia: Trial of Five Suspected JI Islamists

Jan 04: Scene Of Islamist's Final Battle Is Tourist Attraction

Jan 09: Another Islamist In Court On Terrorism Charges

Jan 11: Trial Of Another Suspected Islamist Begins

Jan 14: Indonesia: Muslim School Challenges "Terrorist" Claim

Jan 19: Top Islamist's Henchman Arrested

The Jakarta Post reports that a key aide to the Islamist terror leader, Noordin Mohamed Top, has been arrested in Central Java.

Subur Sugiarto was on a bus in the town of Boyolali, destined for Jakarta when he was arrested on Tuesday. So far, he has not been charged with any offence.

Subur is allegedly a "henchman"of Noordin Top, a key recruiter and financier to the Islamist terror group Jemaah Islamiyah. Top was suspected of involvement in both sets of Bali bombings, from 2002 and Oct 1, 2005.

Currently there are eleven people on trial in Indonesia, with the most recent to come to trial being Joko Tri Priyanto, who is accused of assisting Noordin Top in securing refuge while he was on the run in August 2004.

Noordin Top has been a fugitive since the immediate aftermath of the first Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australian tourists.

Feb 28: Indonesia: Islamist Terror Group Funded By Al Qaeda"

March 22: Indonesia: A New Leader For Islamist Terror Group?

April 27: Indonesia: JI Islamist Sentenced To Seven Years' Jail

May 1: Indonesia: Three Jemaah Islamiyah Muslims Jailed For Terrorism

Today, according to Associated Press via Santa Barbara News Press and ABC25, three Muslim terrorists have been convicted of sheltering Noordin Mohammed Top.

The South Jakarta District Court handed out sentences of up to seven years to the men. Abdulah Sunata received seven years, and Joni Ahmad Fauzani got four years. Both had admitted meeting Noordin Top, the Malaysian-born "banker" and recruiter for Jemaah Islamiyah.

The third man, Joko Sumanto, was convicted of gun-running and financing terrorism, and was jailed for four years.

The three were arrested last year. Joni Ahmed Fauzani was arrested in Pacet, East Java on Wednesday, 6 July. They are said to have hidden Noordin Mohammed Top after the suicide attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Sept 9, 2004, which killed 11 and injured more than 200.

We reported on Friday, (April 27) that Ahmad Ridho was sentenced to seven years' jail for sheltering Noordin Top. Another man, Joko Tri Priyanto is also on trial for sheltering the recruiter and financier for Jemaah Islamiyah.

Meanwhile, at the weekend, anti-terror police in Indonesia narrowly avoided capturing Noordin Top, according to Turkish Press and yesterday's Jakarta Post.

After three months of surveillance of a house in in the village of Binangu near Wonosobo, Central Java, anti-terror police raided on Saturday, using explosives to blow out the window to to gain entry. The event was screened on the local ANTV news (pictured). During the raid, two accomplices of Noordin Top, Abdul Hadi, and another named Jabir (aka Mujabir), were killed. These were said to be bomb-makers. Abdul, also called Bambang and Baharudin Saleh, was also a recruiter for Jemaah Islamiyah. Jabir had helped to make the bombs used in the attack upon the J. W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, which killed 12 people on 5 August 2003.

Another accomplice was subsequently captured in the nearby town of Temanggung. The arrested individuals from the Wonosobo hideout are Solahudin (aka Sukri aka Dani), who is accused of bombings, including an attack upon a church in 200, and also Muhtafirin, a courier to Azahari bin Husin. Azahari was Jemaah Islamiyah's main bomb-maker, who was killed by a police bullet on November 9 last year, near Malang in Java.

Apparently the five occupants of the house had posed as traders in textile and corn. Today's Jakarta Post states that police are convinced Noordin Top is still in the region of Central Java, and roadblocks have been mounted, with vehicles checked. Seaports are also loci of the operation, should Top attempt to flee via boat.

The remains of Jabir, who was a relative of Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, who was killed in the Philippines on October 12 2003, will be returned to his hometown of Madiun in East Java.

According to Associated Press, following the raid on Top's Wonosobo hideout, a backpack filled with explosives was discovered yesterday. The authorities claim this was found following a tip from those arrested on Saturday. The explosives are of a similar type to those used by the three suicide bombers who struck on the island of Bali on October 1 last year, killing 26 people, mostly tourists. The discovery of the rucksack implies that despite reports that Jemaah Islamiyah may be fragmenting, it is still prepared to continue attacks.

May 5: Indonesia: Islamist Leader Has Created Substantive Terror Network

We reported earlier that Noordin Mohammed Top (pictured), the Malaysian-born banker and recruiter for Jemaah Islamiyah narrowly escaped capture, when his hideout at Binangu village near Wonosobo, Central Java, was raided on 29 April.

Today, the Jakarta Post reports that the two individuals who who were arrested in the raids, called Solahudin and Mustafirin, have been formally charged.

On Wednesday, the Jakarta Post announced that a digital video recording containing bomb-making instructions had been found in Noordin Top's Wonosobo hideout. The video showed how to make varieties of bombs, from low impact to high impact.

Noordin Top has been on the run since the suicide bombings on Bali, in which 202 people, many of them Australian tourists, were killed in 2002.

Reports on Noordin Top's activities are now being released by Voice of Alerica News, the Melbourne Age, the Australian, the Bangkok Post, and Nine MSN News.

These reports all state that Noordin Top, whether or not he is going to be arrested by Indonesian police, has built up a strong network which can set off terror attacks of its own accord. The source of all these articles is not one to be taken lightly, as it is written by Dr Sidney Jones, herself the foremost expert on Jemaah Islamiyah. The full report is available from the International Crisis Group, where Dr Jones is the SouthEast Asia director.

A summary of the report can be found on the International Crisis Group's website. The full report, which is 38 pages long, can be downloaded in pdf format HERE, and a version in Microsoft Word can be downloaded HERE.

The report states that Noordin Top relied upon the two individuals who were killed in the 29 April Wonosobo raid for the attacks which were carried out by three suicide bombers in the second Bali attack, on October 1, 2005, as well as others. These individuals were Jabir and Abdul Hadi. The Jakarta Post states that Jabir had become a proficient bomb-maker.

Dr Jones states that for the bombing of the Marriott hotel in Jakarta on 5 August 2003, Noordin Toop had utilised the assistance of Sumatra based JI followers, who had been schooled at the Lukman al-Hakiem school in Malaysia, or the al-Mukmin pesantren (Islamic boarding school) at Ngruki near Solo in Central Java, Indonesia. 12 people were killed and 150 wounded in this car-bomb attack.

For the Australian Embassy bombing of 9 September 2004, which killed 11 and injured more than 200, Top relied on three different newtorks. These wee the East Java division of Jemaah Islamiyah, graduates of JI schools in Central Java, and a West Java-based division of the Darul Islam. This organisation, from which JI originated, began its life before Indonesia was formed. Dr Jones notes that the way Top was outsourcing tasks to other groups showed that he was acting independently.

He ran short of funds following the Australian Embassy bombing, and again brought in assistance from outside individuals. One was an individual Darul Islam faction from the Philippines and the other was a former chief of the Ambon office of the Islamic charity KOMPAK. These did not want to join forces with Noordin Top, but both were arrested in mid-2005, and some of their followers sided with Noordin Top.

Dr Jones notes that the recent loss of Jabir and Abdul Hadi, who acted as couriers for him, is a serious blow to Noordin Top. He is also suffering from a loss of funds. But Dr Jones warns that even if he is arrested, the networks which he utilised "will survive as a potential source of recruits for future operations."

The picture above of Noordin Top shows him at left as he used to appear, and at right as he now styles his appearance.