J

strong>June 20, Online/AFP

Indonesians are joining the procession of jihadists to Syria and Iraq, sparking fears they will revive sophisticated militant networks when they return and undermine a decade-long crackdown that has crippled the most dangerous cells.

Support for groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), Sunni radicals currently rampaging through northern Iraq, is growing among Indonesian extremists with dozens believed to have joined the insurgency.

Analysts say the fighters will pose a new and serious threat to Indonesia when they return home with honed insurgency tactics and international militant connections, echoing the concerns of Western governments.

Your comments:

There is a positive note to all of this. Serious jihadists are allowing themselves to be identified so authorities are in a better position to keep them under surveillance. It also provides an opportunity for fundamentalists to focus their energy on other states.

Jagera

There is nothing positive here. They will return from Syria and Iraq with combat skills.

They may be hired as militias. In both cases, there is a risk that the level of violence in this country will increase.

Jan Karl

Although the threat of militant groups is a valid concern, it is important to recognize which countries have been covertly supporting militant groups in proxy war operations in Syria, Iraq, Libya, etc.

It is well documented that the US, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Qatar, the UK, France, Turkey, Jordan, etc. are involved in the funding, training, armament and logistical support of militant groups as part of proxy war operations against Syria.  

The very nations that claim to be fighting terrorism are in fact supporting militant groups conducting terrorist operations. But then the so-called '€œglobal war on terror'€ is also being misused to pursue broader strategic objectives.  It is truly a global war.  

It is also being used as a pretext for globally expanding military deployments and operations. Indeed, Australia is using '€œborder security'€, '€œresource protection'€, '€œcounterterrorism'€ etc. to facilitate the gradual buildup and deployment of military assets.

More importantly, Australia is increasing the presence (on a rotational, visitational and operational basis) of US forces, military assets, nuclear submarines and nuclear bombers.  These are not for counterterrorism operations.

Some countries that make proclamations about fighting terrorism are also covertly supporting militant groups conducting terrorist operations (consider the recent Australian award for Australian National University Professor Des Ball for his organization of covert assassination operations in Myanmar, even though such operations are in violation of international law).

Dei Udici

If the government is serious about cracking down on terrorism then it should arrest these people as suspected terrorists when they come back. It'€™s not as though they have gone on holiday to any of the war-torn countries.

Johnny