Militant Leader Lying Low for Now but jihad still a priority for the leader of Laskar Jihad
Militant leader Jafaar Umar Thalib is living a low-profile life – teaching religion, writing a book. He is not likely to revive his infamous militia, Laskar Jihad, anytime soon, having been acquitted by a Jakarta court only recently, his friends said. But for the 42-year-old cleric once dubbed as the most dangerous man in Indonesia, waging jihad or holy war remains a priority and mobilising the religious zealots that make up his followers could be just a matter of time, they said. The East Jakarta Court late last month found him not guilty of provoking violence, spreading hatred against the government and defaming the president in the conflict-torn province of Maluku. Full Story