Based on online and TV news in Indonesia, Jihadists have been successful in shaping the "positive" image of their activism. Attacks conducted over the last decade are portrayed as the attempt to struggle against the pressure of the West and ruling governments, which they call thaghut, a term allowing them to fight under the name of God.
Before the execution of the Bali bombers, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), and now the leader of Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT), delivered a message on the status of the bombers on the Internet through YouTube. Ba'asyir argues that the three bombers are eligible for the highest reward from God for their actions, which Ba'asyir claims was jihad.
Ba'asyir is not the only jihadi leader using cyber facilities to deliver propaganda. Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi and Aiman Al Zawahiri of al-Qaeda have used cyberspace to propagate their programs and messages. In Indonesia, blogging is also used by radical, violent communities to promote their ideas of jihad. Cyberspace and print media were also effective instruments for the Bali bombers, turning them into very popular and "inspiring pioneers" among radical Muslims.
Before their execution on Nov. 9, 2008, the Bali bombers became celebrities, enjoying publicity through the Indonesian and international media. Some interviews by radical print magazines, such as Jihadmagz and Sabili, constructed a positive image, with more Indonesian Muslims sympathizing with them before publication.
No wonder, the bombers' funerals were attended by more than 2,000 visitors from all parts of Java and some other Indonesian regions. They were visitors from Afghan veterans, radical organization members, Jihadist school students and the bombers' neighbors in Lamongan, East Java, and Serang, Banten.
The silent majority of moderate Muslims will lose their space preserving plurality and tolerance in the long term if they do not take more action to fight against radical jihadism. Democracy and freedom enjoyed by all Indonesians after the collapse of the New Order will turn into a nightmare if the government and the majority of moderate Muslims do not solve the problem immediately.
Fawaz A. Gerges (2005), the chair of International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies at Sarah Lawrence College, argues that radical jihadist intend to combat the "far enemy" as part of their global Jihad. The war, therefore, is between the solidarity of Muslims in Southern Philippines, Southern Thailand, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine against the West. But later they will shift their fight to the "near enemy".
According to interviews and statements by Bali trio and other jihadi leaders showing, they will fight against the near enemy, Muslims in Indonesia, who are against their agenda.
Now is the period of their consolidation. They are strengthening their ideology and recruiting more people under the umbrella of radical organizations. The quality of support has more meaning than the numbers. According to the survey of LSI (2007), the number of JI, Indonesian Mujahiddin Council (MMI) and FPI supports increased significantly between 2005 and 2007.
In rural and urban Indonesia, more Muslims have changed their minds, sympathizing with the ideologies and struggle of radical communities. The ongoing financial crisis and the chronic disease of corruption have become effective ways to attract people the caravan of jihad and radical groups.
The Nobel laureate Amartya Sen (2007) argues that the existence of radical jihadists and their struggle is part of expressing identity and the richness of Muslims. More needs to be done to counter terrorism than just imprisoning criminals. Interfaith and multicultural dialogue as well as the global agenda to decrease poverty have to be proponents of policies throughout the world. It will be a more powerful way to finish building the image of peace for the world against the attempt of violent, radical groups.
The writer is a lecturer of the Department of International Relations, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN), Jakarta.
