INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

International Security: Characteristics of Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Introduction1

History of Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia2

The Rise of Al-Qaeda in Southeast Asian Region3

The Rise of Jemaah Islamiyah Network in the Southeast Asian Region4

The Rise of Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Southeast Asian Region4

Driving Characteristics for the Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia4

AL-Qaeda Links with Southeast Asian Countries6

Counterterrorism Strategies by Southeast Asian Region7

Conclusion8

References10

International Security: Characteristics of Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Introduction

Terrorism is the means by which an individual or persuade the government, people, or groups to modify their demeanor and political policies. It is illegitimate use of violence and terror against a person or a nation to gain a tactical advantage by creating fear and threat for the innocent. Terrorist activities are deliberately planned well in advance rather than taking a spontaneous action to achieve their agenda.

Islamic terrorism is categorized as spiritual (religious) terrorism that is committed by Muslim community in order to achieve various opinionated and political interests by perusing religion at their backend. This form of terrorism has occurred globally (including India, Southeast Asia, USA, The Pacific and others). Islamic terrorist's organizations involve various acts to showcase their threat by employing suicidal attacks, violence, hijacking, massive target killing, abduction and recruitment of new members via Internet. Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia Countries makes up the second frontage in the World-wide war on the terror campaign.

Jamiyah Islamiyah and Abu Sayyaf are two large-scale terrorists' organizations (in collaboration with Al-Qaeda) have exhausted the US largely by completing the efforts to diminish terror campaign by these organizations to provide national stability. However US have modified their concentration in international efforts to reduce their zone of persuasion. The counter terrorism strategy by US highlights an improvement in regional policies along with an increased efficient naval control and civilization procedures.

South east Asia is the base for aboriginal Islamic activist groups for decades. The linkages between these groups was very weak traditionally, focused on domestic issues including the implementation of Shariah Laws by seeking independence from the national government This paper discusses about Islamic terrorism in Southeast Asia, its historical evolution in South east Asian countries, its characteristics and its threats to the same.

History of Islamic Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Islamic region entered Southeast Asia in 1300 (about seven centuries after the death of Prophet Mohammad in 632 AD). This religion lied on the slander stratum of Hinduism and Buddhism religion. The later two had been adopted by the local ruling classes in 600 B.C (abut 1000 years before the death of the Prophet) to strengthen and legalize their laws. Islamic religion in Southeast Asia is contribution of two sources (India and Yemen) which resulted in t diversified adoption by Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and marginal majority that espoused the modernized western cultural regulations. These majority forces have always retaliated against the growing Islamic religious grounds on the nation. Till date, the Southeast Asian states have witnessed extensive growth of Islamic-terrorism and extremists groups in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia (Palmer, ...