Zulkifli Mahmood
<[email protected]> wrote:
To: [email protected]
From: Zulkifli Mahmood <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:02:40 +0800 (CST)
Subject: [singapore_muslims] INTERNET RADICALISM 'A THREAT TO S-E
ASIA'
EXTRACTED FROM THE STRAITS TIMES, APRIL 5 2008. PAGE 42/WORLD
INTERNET RADICALISM 'A
THREAT TO S-E ASIA'
By SHEFALI REKHI
Assistant Foreign Editor
Home-grown terror groups could engage in South-east Asia with
individuals taking lessons from the Internet, an American
counter-terrorism official said, adding that Al-Qaeda too is using
the Web in more sophisticated ways.
"You still have radical elements throughout the region," said Mr
Patrick O'Brien, Assistant Secretary in the US Treasury for
terrorist financing.
"Events around the world have shown the ability (of radical
leaders) to use the Internet, and other means, to reconstitute a
group, to radicalise and bring new people to share their
ideology.
"One real charismatic leader might be able to recoalesce some of
those who are now more dispersed because of the leadership
disruptions we have had," he said, commending the effort of
governments in this region to counter terrorism.
Mr O'Brien was sharing his views with The Straits Times on the
terror threat in this region, during a visit here yesterday, after
stops in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Five years after the Bali attacks, which left more than 200
people dead and several others injured, regional governments have
had "tremendous success" in their ability to "incapacitate" a
number of senior leaders.
"We are encouraged by that, but the work is never done. There
are still significant threats in the region that we need to stay
mindful of," he said.
While there is concern in the region about some of the militant
leaders who are still at large, includingtop Bali bomber Noordin
Mohamad Top, Jemaah Islamiah head in the Philippines Umar Patek and
head of the SIngapore cell Mas Selamat Kastari, Mr O'Brien drew
attention to radical messages on the internet.
"We are seeing a whole specturm of activity - from radical
speeches to radical interpretations of Islam, there are videos
glorifying attacks in various places.
"Even the Al-Qaeda has much more sophisticated operation. No
longer do we see smuggled videos coming out on Al-Jazeera. We are
seeing much more sophisticated statements with real-time
translations.
"There are other products being offered which reflect that, for
the Al-Qaeda and other groups, the Internet is an important tool to
spread their ideology."
Radicals are using the Internet for communication, training and
for the sharing of expertise, and this "might help some of the
groups reconstitute in this region", he said.
The arrest of two young men under the Internal Security Act
in Singapore earlier this year has drawn the attention of the local
authorities to the threat of self-radicalisation, but in terror
circles, there is concern about what could be happening elsewhere
in the region.
"It is hard to contain information in this age," Mr O'Brien
said, as he called for collective action by regional governments to
engage in discussion and encourage moderate views in the Muslim
world.