The New Straits Times
His death is a significant blow to the terrorism movement in Indonesia, and beyond. A former accountant and mathematics teacher, Noordin's background made him stand out as a terrorist among terrorists. Indonesian security believes he was involved in every major attack made on Indonesian soil since 2002, the most recent one being the bombings of the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta in July. Noordin also trained future generations of bomb-makers and operatives. In a rift with Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) core leadership, he was believed to have created a splinter group to achieve his heinous goals by even more violent means.
Still, there is no time to celebrate the success. There is some debate as to whether Noordin led a shrinking terror outfit or had managed to attract more recruits and resources in recent years. If his group had managed to establish firmer links with Al-Qaeda in the form of funding, expertise and recruits, the threat to Indonesia and the region will remain serious. It has also been reported that a number of terrorist leaders close to him are still on the run. They include Saefuddin Zuhri, a high-ranking Al-Qaeda operative who recruits suicide bombers, and his brother Mohamed Syahrir.
Moreover, it should be noted that the strategy of JI and Al-Qaeda is not merely physical terror but also the psychological form. By definition, the power of terrorism lies in the art of coercion. Mass killings and damage to property are only part of a bigger plan to paralyse populations by instilling fear in them. The best way to fight terror is to fear it, but not excessively. More importantly, to not be paralysed by fear but to get on with life. This was a lesson New York residents learnt after the Sept 11 attacks. Mumbai people also held their nerve after the bombing last year. Increasingly, Indonesia has come to grips with this truism. In the long term, psychological underpinning to complement the hunt-and-destroy campaign will be a key asset for Indonesia and the region in the long slog against terror.
SEPT 21 — The elimination of Noordin Top, the Malaysia-born terrorist leader, is a landmark development. His death in an Indonesian raid in Central Java on Thursday removes a catalytic figure in Southeast Asia's war to weed out the deep roots of terrorism. Confirmation by police of his death is also important in disabusing some Javanese of a belief that an aura of magic had helped Noordin to evade justice. (This is not as far-fetched as some think: Noordin escaped capture in 2005 and again last month, when the Indonesian authorities prematurely announced his death in a shootout.)
His death is a significant blow to the terrorism movement in Indonesia, and beyond. A former accountant and mathematics teacher, Noordin's background made him stand out as a terrorist among terrorists. Indonesian security believes he was involved in every major attack made on Indonesian soil since 2002, the most recent one being the bombings of the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in Jakarta in July. Noordin also trained future generations of bomb-makers and operatives. In a rift with Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) core leadership, he was believed to have created a splinter group to achieve his heinous goals by even more violent means.
Still, there is no time to celebrate the success. There is some debate as to whether Noordin led a shrinking terror outfit or had managed to attract more recruits and resources in recent years. If his group had managed to establish firmer links with Al-Qaeda in the form of funding, expertise and recruits, the threat to Indonesia and the region will remain serious. It has also been reported that a number of terrorist leaders close to him are still on the run. They include Saefuddin Zuhri, a high-ranking Al-Qaeda operative who recruits suicide bombers, and his brother Mohamed Syahrir.
Moreover, it should be noted that the strategy of JI and Al-Qaeda is not merely physical terror but also the psychological form. By definition, the power of terrorism lies in the art of coercion. Mass killings and damage to property are only part of a bigger plan to paralyse populations by instilling fear in them. The best way to fight terror is to fear it, but not excessively. More importantly, to not be paralysed by fear but to get on with life. This was a lesson New York residents learnt after the Sept 11 attacks. Mumbai people also held their nerve after the bombing last year. Increasingly, Indonesia has come to grips with this truism. In the long term, psychological underpinning to complement the hunt-and-destroy campaign will be a key asset for Indonesia and the region in the long slog against terror.
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