The Big Read: Jemaah Islamiyah emerges from the shadows, playing the long game
File photos of Abu Rusdan (L), the Jemaah Islamiyah’s public face and Abu Bakar Bashir, who is the organisation’s spiritual leader.
Following a crackdown by regional security forces, the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist organisation has switched tack to play a patient, long game.
Recent arrests in Indonesia suggest that a JI insider had founded a political party, which would be a first for the terror group.
The creation of a hybrid militant-political force, like the Hezbollah in Lebanon, could be one of JI's goals, said experts.
Such a move indicate that JI may be sensing that the ground in Indonesia is turning to its favour.
Despite attempts to rebrand itself, JI has not truly renounced the use of violence and the Singapore authorities are watching it closely.
