1. 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:

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

3. US Counter Terrorism Efforts in Southeast Asia

4. 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

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

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

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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: