a_unique_person
30th September 2003, 05:14 PM
I read this article today, and found it very interesting.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/30/1064819927213.html
Secret Australian cells of terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah raised money to develop the group in the decade before the Bali bombings, according to terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna.
But lax laws allowed cell leaders to escape after the attacks, he told the National Press Club yesterday.
Dr Gunaratna, author of Inside Al Qaeda, said JI's leadership in Malaysia had wanted to conduct attacks on Australian soil, but some cell members had refused.
He also said a second phase of terrorist attacks by radical Islamic groups had begun and South-East Asia was now the world's biggest terrorist centre.
Dr Gunaratna said JI established its Australian network in the early 1990s during 11 visits by its leader, Abu Bakar Bashir.
"In many ways Australia was their bank," he said. "They have raised significant funds in Australia. They established their cells initially in Melbourne, later on in Sydney and Perth." They had up to 100 members in Australia.
An associate of the group had confessed that the Australian network was raising $200,000 a year for JI.
"The Australian cells of JI were not keen to do terrorist acts because they had families, property, reasonably good jobs," Dr Gunaratna said.
"The JI cells in Malaysia were very keen to do attacks in Australia.
"The attack plans were called off because of disagreements between the JI cells in Australia with the JI cells in Malaysia, otherwise there would have been mass attacks in Australia."
Dr Gunaratna said the dispute within JI surfaced at Sydney's Dee Why mosque, resulting in an assault on its imam by JI's Australian leader, Rahman Ayub. JI was attempting to take over the mosque, he said.
1) Material wealth helps prevent terrorism, that is, those who lived in Australia did not want to disrupt their successful lives by getting their hands dirty.
2) Not all Muslims want to back terrorism, and there has been dissension between Muslims over backing terrorism.
3) Muslims in wealthier countries are funding those doing the actual dirty work in poorer countries.
4) Restrictions on civil liberties are needed to fight terrorism.
In regard to point (3), this is also an accusation pointed at Americans funding terrorism in Ireland and Jews funding 'settlers' and extremists in Israel.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/30/1064819927213.html
Secret Australian cells of terrorist network Jemaah Islamiah raised money to develop the group in the decade before the Bali bombings, according to terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratna.
But lax laws allowed cell leaders to escape after the attacks, he told the National Press Club yesterday.
Dr Gunaratna, author of Inside Al Qaeda, said JI's leadership in Malaysia had wanted to conduct attacks on Australian soil, but some cell members had refused.
He also said a second phase of terrorist attacks by radical Islamic groups had begun and South-East Asia was now the world's biggest terrorist centre.
Dr Gunaratna said JI established its Australian network in the early 1990s during 11 visits by its leader, Abu Bakar Bashir.
"In many ways Australia was their bank," he said. "They have raised significant funds in Australia. They established their cells initially in Melbourne, later on in Sydney and Perth." They had up to 100 members in Australia.
An associate of the group had confessed that the Australian network was raising $200,000 a year for JI.
"The Australian cells of JI were not keen to do terrorist acts because they had families, property, reasonably good jobs," Dr Gunaratna said.
"The JI cells in Malaysia were very keen to do attacks in Australia.
"The attack plans were called off because of disagreements between the JI cells in Australia with the JI cells in Malaysia, otherwise there would have been mass attacks in Australia."
Dr Gunaratna said the dispute within JI surfaced at Sydney's Dee Why mosque, resulting in an assault on its imam by JI's Australian leader, Rahman Ayub. JI was attempting to take over the mosque, he said.
1) Material wealth helps prevent terrorism, that is, those who lived in Australia did not want to disrupt their successful lives by getting their hands dirty.
2) Not all Muslims want to back terrorism, and there has been dissension between Muslims over backing terrorism.
3) Muslims in wealthier countries are funding those doing the actual dirty work in poorer countries.
4) Restrictions on civil liberties are needed to fight terrorism.
In regard to point (3), this is also an accusation pointed at Americans funding terrorism in Ireland and Jews funding 'settlers' and extremists in Israel.