Indonesia Cleric 'Sought to Tap into Al-Qaeda Brand'

An armed police officer stands guard as radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, left, speaks to reporters from inside a holding cell while waiting for the start of his trial at a district court in jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, March 14, 2011. Bashir who was allegedly helped fund and recruit foot-soldiers for a new al-Qaida-styled terror cell, faces a maximum penalty of death if found guilty.

Jakarta, Indonesia (News Today) - An Indonesian militant cell adopted the name “Al-Qaeda in Aceh” to take advantage of the global brand name, a court heard Monday at the trial of firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

The preacher, who faces charges including leading and financing the Aceh group, said that Osama bin Laden’s terror network was an established brand, Bashir’s former key aide Abdul Haris told the South Jakarta district court.

“The group that is well-known in the world for having carried out jihad is Al-Qaeda,” the 46-year-old terror convict said in his witness testimony, conducted via video link.

“That’s why Abu Bakar Bashir told us that in waging jihad, we should not create a new name for the group but just call it Al-Qaeda — such that jihad will not be disjointed, and (will) be far stronger,” he added.

Bashir could face the death penalty if convicted. Haris, who was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for contributing funds to Al-Qaeda in Aceh, did not say whether he believed they had direct links with the international terror network.

The militant cell planned Mumbai-style attacks using squads of suicide gunmen against Westerners. Haris was among several witnesses who asked to testify via video link because of fears for their safety, prompting Bashir and his lawyers to walk out of the courtroom in protest.

“I don’t have any trust in this trial... You just wait, God will curse all of you, as this is all about Islam,” Bashir, 72, said.

Bashir is also an alleged co-founder of the Jemaah Islamiyah regional terror organisation, which is blamed for multiple attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 people, mainly Western tourists.

Source : kompas

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