By : Otjih Sewandarijatun, Alumnus of Udayana University, Bali. Former Director of Mass Communication at Lembaga Analisa Politik dan Demokrasi, Jakarta

Recently the presence of ISIS has likely created serious problem of the world especially among the countries dominated mainly by the Moslem inhabitant. ISIS called its presence in ME (Middle East)  as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. However so far no  clear information about the Constitution, the ISIS Government Composition and other  State performance concerning ISIS  is detected academically. Just for comparison ISIS looks different compared to The State of the Palestine in the Middle East which is trying to perform as the Conventional State and Government in the Palestine region.

In fact to understand what is the strategic concept of ISIS we should see academically the “Constitution of ISIS”, because to see what is the Philosophy, the Ending Goals and the possible strategic actions of this kind of  Organization (mainly which is described its presence as a State) we should read clearly the Constitution and the various document considered as the publication of the State concerns.  

Is ISIS a State or just a group of people who are commanded and controlled  by a leader may be called as “ the Great Leader” and constitutes an extreme power,  to implement its radical unclear will and objective. Likely no official academic document is found about ISIS and published by the ISIS.

Is ISIS the name of a State or just the name of a group of People that is similar to Al Qaeda under the leadership of Osama bin Laden,  but ISIS  has the bigger size organization than Al Qaeda and controls  a certain large territory mainly in Syria and Iraq, but without clear source of Operational budget.

Now a publication that may be published by ISIS  or its element in SEA under the name of Al Fatihin had been found and circulated  in some countries in SEA which are considered dominated mostly by Moslem People, namely Malaysia, the South Philippines and also said in Indonesia (though so far not any information reported confirming this statement).

General assessment has been shortly made that the publication has been intended to support the Strategic Objectives of ISIS in SEA or at least to serve their considered “foreign fighters” in SEA, but what is the ISIS’ real objective in SEA and  who are those people considered as its “foreign fighters”? We hope we  could assess it if we could see, as mentioned above, the Constitution of ISIS. Reasonably,  because internationally or at least the United Nations should make its official policy against  the existence of ISIS in the world. Thus it is likely important internationally for the countries of the World to respond the ISIS presence. This comment is presented to respond to the circulation of a publication identified as the written product of ISIS recently in SEA under the name of Al Fatihin.

The circulation of ISIS publication in South East Asia (SEA)

Recently a publication that may be published by ISIS and circulated in SEA  has been found in  various countries  of this region, namely Malaysia, in the South Philippines and may be also Indonesia.

The information concerning the publication is likely could be absorbed from the assessment made by various  Professions as follows :

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has launched its first Malay language newspaper for its supporters in Southeast Asia, as the terrorist group seeks to expand its reach in the region.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported on Monday that the publication, called Al Fatihin, was launched in southern Philippines on June 20. Al Fatihin means "The Conqueror" in Arabic. It is also being distributed in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, southern Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

According to the Malay Mail Online, which translated the Berita Harian report, an unnamed security expert was quoted as saying that the publication could signal that Malaysia was in ISIS' sights.

"This psychological campaign means that the terrorists have a big objective, which is to expand their influence among people who understand the Malay language," the expert said. "Based on the way the language is used, we believe the writer or editor of the paper may be from this country."

A paper published on June 23 by Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, which is based within Nanyang Technological University, also confirmed the existence of the publication.

The paper's authors, senior analyst Jasminder Singh and research analyst Muhammad Haziq Jani, noted that Al Fatihin's tagline indicated that it would serve the existing Southeast Asian "foreign fighters", who mostly hail from Indonesia and Malaysia.

"Al-Fatihin's tagline drives the point that, no matter the differences and nuances in language, identity and origins, Southeast Asian jihadists have a common logos and as such, all Malay-speaking jihadists should act as one," the paper added.

The 20-page inaugural edition was also "well-timed" for the holy month of  Ramadhan, and focused heavily on its significance, as well as the rituals of fasting. There were also reports on the caliphate and features on religion.

The Assessment

Based on the above various comment a number of conclusion could be likely drawn and constituted a number of assessment as follows :first, it is still not clear whether  the paper of around 20 pages under the name of Al Fatihin was edited and published originally in Middle East or apparently it is composed based on the original policy of ISIS leadership in ME but edited and published by the element of ISIS in South East Asia (SEA).

Second, there is suspicious that the leaflet is edited and run by Malay living in SEA and published in SEA,  but definitely those group of people had been believed joining ISIS in ME in the past.

Third, there  is not direct agitation in the leaflet that could provoke the eruption of  radicalism  and extremism instantly among young  generation in SEA. However it indicated that the publication is confirmed that jihad is approved as the Islamic character in performing the Islamic teaching. And in this case Islam teaching is the Moslem objective to be implemented in the world.

Fourth, there  is no specific statement that is indicating of calling and suggestion to establish the  branch of  ISIS in SEA  but definitely this publication is concluding that jihad among the people Moslem in SEA is not necessarily influenced by the different nationality, culture and language. ISIS fighters  everywhere in the world are one unity.

Fifth, the leaflet was indicating to be clearly circulated in the South Philippines and Malaysia but it is  hoped will be done also in other states in SEA, included Indonesia. So far had no any report stating the circulation of Al Fatihin in any part of Indonesia.

Sixth, South Philippines is clearly the target of distribution of this kind of leaflet      based on the fact that radical Moslem insurgents are existing here and  Malaysia is a faithful Moslem Kingdom in SEA. North Malaya was also the basis of Thais Moslem insurgents in the past. However it should not be neglected that Malaysia is embarking to become modern and advance country similar to Singapore’

Conclusion

This leaflet is definitely intended by  ISIS or its supporter in SEA to popularize ISIS and to attract young generation to join ISIS. In this framework the radicalism under the tagline of Moslem jihad is definitely approved to rise and implemented in the Islamic struggle.

The target of circulation of this kind of publication  in Indonesia are definitely the Moslem Boarding School and mosques, though no report stated the ISIS leaflet has been found in Indonesia.

However, the Government is urgently suggested to publish this kind of leaflet to neutralize the impact of ISIS leaflet. Most on Indonesian are Moslem but clearly Indonesian Moslem mostly rejects extremism and radicalism.

The ISIS publication should be considered as forbidden reading material and should be taken away from the book-store or market.  Though Al Fatihin is only  intended to serve the ISIS-fighters in SEA, but definitely it is also intended to popularize ISIS-presence and influencing its extreme  and radicals characters among mentally weak young generation in SEA.

Meanwhile the Government has to consider to publish such kind of popular highly Islamic standard reading paper  distributed freely among the boarding school and Mosques under the Program on Anti Radicalism and Extremism among young Moslem generation.

The firm censorship should be implemented in all the Post Office and the Immigration check in counter against the passengers coming from abroad that may be bringing such kind of Al Fatihin reading material to Indonesia.

The government in SEA, included Indonesia should realize that the firm effort to strengthen the possibly mental weak condition existing of among young generation in this country should be anticipated and wisely implemented through education and other social activities.