Woro Swasti, Jakarta – Two years after it was disbanded, Laskar Jihad is ready to be sent back to Ambon if the government cannot overcome the situation there.

“Laskar Jihad will be re-deployed in Ambon if the assessment is that the government is unable to overcome the situation. I am studying the situation on the ground minute by minute”, said the Laskar Jihad commander Jafar Umar Thalib at a press conference at the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) offices on Jalan Keramat II in Central Jakarta on Tuesday April 27.

As far as it is known, Laskar Jihad’s disbandment came out of a Sunni Wal Jamaah Communications Forum guidance council meeting on October 3-7, 2002. The disbandment of the organisation was not related to the Bali bombing tragedy but was simply an ideological question.

According to Thalib, his members are ready to be sent to Ambon at a moments notice. “No preparations are necessary. They are ready [to go]”, he said.

How many people will be sent to Ambon? “Previously, before [Laskar Jihad] was disbanded, there were around 10,000 people. The number which will be sent [this time] may be more than that”, he said.

Thalib said that the monitoring of the riots was continuing. The Maluku chief of police had been sacked because of the very strong influence of the Maluku South Republic [independence group] on the Maluku local police. “The deployment will be by the usual means, those who are able to go by air will go by air, [those who are able] go by sea will go by sea”, said Thalib.

Furthermore said Thalib, even if they are hindered by the government the organisation will still send personnel there. “In 2000 there were hindrances by the government, by the navy, [but] we were still able to send [our members] there”, he revealed.

Meanwhile, the MER-C team sent two doctors and one logistics officer to Ambon on Tuesday to provide medial assistance. The team will work at the Al Fatah public hospital. If the situation continues to heat up, they will send a follow up team consisting of various specialists, doctors and other non-medial volunteers. (aan)

[Translated by James Balowski.]