Jakarta, Indonesia-AP — A split has developed among Southeast Asian radicals about the wisdom of attacking targets where Muslims could die.Some militants inside the al-Qaida-linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (jeh-MAH’ is-lah-MEE’-uh) want their holy war to focus on fighting Christians in certain parts of Indonesia, rather than bombing Western targets where Muslims die, too.
That’s according to government officials, defense attorneys and an intelligence adviser to Indonesia who spoke to The Associated Press.
The internal debate appears to have intensified after the bombing last August of the J-W Marriott hotel in Jakarta. Most of the 12 people who died were Muslims. As a result, prominent Muslim defense lawyers say they’ve refused to accept any of those bombers as clients.
Officials say dissension among militants could potentially weaken terrorist networks anywhere in the world. On the other hand, it could also mean greater danger as cells attack without the blessings of their peers.
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