JAKARTA, July 21 -- As a lengthy, urban battle drags on between Philippine forces and Islamist militants in the southern city of Marawi, a new report by a think-tank has warned of more attacks by radicals in Southeast Asia, including on foreigners. A coalition of Philippine militant groups, augmented by foreign fighters, stormed Marawi, on the island on Mindanao, nearly two months ago. The militants, who claim allegiance to Islamic State (IS), still control a portion of the city despite a sustained military offensive. There have been similar attacks in the Philippines since last year, but the duration and ferocity of the fighting in Marawi has alarmed Southeast Asian nations and led to fears the assault could inspire and unite the region's disparate Islamist groups. "The risks won't end when the military declares victory," said Sidney Jones, director of the Institute of Policy Analysis of Conflict, adding that threats would mount in … [Read more...] about More attacks likely in Southeast Asia after Marawi: report
Isis in southeast asia
Made-in-Indonesia fixation poses risks to Widodo revamp
Indonesian officials are obsessed with a 1950s economic policy that did South America little good. President-elect Joko Widodo has proposed policies to promote import (IDIMPTLY) substitution, a strategy aimed at reducing the need for imports by switching to home-grown commodities, industries and technologies. The model, often credited to Argentine economist Raúl Prebisch in the 1950s, lost favor after its widespread adoption in Latin America ended with the debt crisis of the 1980s. An excessive focus on meeting domestic needs could cut off Southeast Asia’s biggest economy from the global supply chain and product development, increase protectionism and leave its industries uncompetitive, analysts say. It also risks elevating demand for foreign currency to fund machinery imports for local production, without creating a flow of exports to balance that financing need. “Import substitution is an archaic policy,” said Arianto Patunru, an economist at Australian … [Read more...] about Made-in-Indonesia fixation poses risks to Widodo revamp
Malaysia says suspected ISIS-linked militant was planning suicide attack
Malaysia's police chief said on Saturday that a suspected militant arrested in a train station in Kuala Lumpur had confessed to planning a suicide attack in the country. The 28-year-old Malaysian man is believed to be a member of the Islamic State (IS) militant group and was arrested on Friday with weapons and documents related to IS, the police said. In a statement, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said the suspect confessed to planning a suicide attack in Malaysia after receiving orders from a foreign IS member in Syria. "The suspect is also responsible for hanging IS flags at several locations in the states of Terengganu, Perak, Selangor and Johor, in order to warn the government to stop arresting IS members in Malaysia," Khalid said in the statement. No further details were given on where and how he was planning the attack. Malaysia has been on high alert since a bomb and gun attack in neighboring Indonesia's capital on Thursday. It has beefed security in public areas … [Read more...] about Malaysia says suspected ISIS-linked militant was planning suicide attack
Indonesia attack brings Islamic State to Southeast Asia’s door
A deadly gun-and-suicide bomb attack claimed by Islamic State in central Jakarta shows the growing reach of the jihadi network from outside its base in the Middle East. The assault on a Starbucks cafe and a police post in the Indonesian capital, while unsophisticated, was the first in Southeast Asia to be directed or inspired by IS, and follows months of warnings by security officials that its members posed a threat to the region. “Paris in November, Istanbul this week and Jakarta today,” Hugo Brennan, Asia analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said on Thursday. “This latest attack can be seen as further evidence of Islamic State’s increasing ability to inspire deadly attacks in cities around the globe.” For Indonesia, which has more Muslims than any other nation, it was a grim reminder of the resilience of a radical fringe that has existed since independence. In the 2000s, militants linked up with al-Qaeda to carry out a string of attacks, the last in Jakarta … [Read more...] about Indonesia attack brings Islamic State to Southeast Asia’s door
Jakarta attack highlights jostle to lead Islamic State in SE Asia
Last week's attack on Jakarta showed for the first time that Islamic State violence has arrived in Indonesia, but security experts believe the radical group's footprint is still light here because militants are jostling to be its regional leader. Police have identified Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian based in Syria, as the mastermind of the blitz of bombings and gunfire that left all five attackers and two civilians dead on Thursday. But perhaps the region's most influential jihadi is a jailed cleric, Aman Abdurrahman, who with just a few couriers and cell phones is able to command around 200 followers from behind bars. He sits at the head of Jamaah Ansharut Daulah, an umbrella organization formed last year through an alliance of splinter groups that security experts believe could become the unifying force for Islamic State supporters. "They want to internalize the conflicts in Indonesia so they can bring more people from the outside," said Rakyan Adibrata, a Jakarta-based terrorism expert … [Read more...] about Jakarta attack highlights jostle to lead Islamic State in SE Asia