JI leader orders halt on Indonesia terrorism

Abu Bakar Bashir, the Muslim cleric, who is thought to be the head of JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), the terrorist organisation repsonsible for the Bali bombings, has ordered a halt on terrorist activities in Indonesia.

The 68 year old said the the actions of the 2005 bombers, were harmful and a miscalculation. He asked Indonesian Mujahideen Council (MMI) members not to follow them.

Bashir spoke at a mosque in E.Java and said ““If you want to go on jihad, do not do it here (in Indonesia), but in the southern Philippines or even in Iraq.” I say that’s good news for all of us who live in Bali. The clampdown by the Indonesian police, has no doubt had an effect on the ability of JI to operate. Bashir recently attended a multi-faith meeting, and maybe someone said something that resonated with him.