Indonesians arrested in Manila last week and charged with possession of explosives are part of a network of Islamic activist groups across Indonesia, a fellow activist confirmed yesterday.
Agus Dwikarna was a founding member of the Majelis Mujahedeen Indonesia (MMI, or Council of Mujahedeen for Islamic Law Enforcement), the group's Yogyakarta leader Irfan Awwas said.
Tamsil Lin Rung was a member of the Dewan Dakwah Islamiyah (DDI), or Council for Islamic Proselytising, Mr Irfan said. But both men were just 'businessmen' with no experience in bomb making or weapons, he said.
'Agus is a businessman, that's why he was in the Philippines. He's free to go anywhere in the world, he has a right, he has a passport. But still he was arrested.'
Mr Irfan blamed the arrests on an alleged conspiracy - led by the United States and Jews and Christians around the world - to attack Islam.
'It is American tactics to attack Islamic groups in the Philippines, Singapore and elsewhere. America is now building a barbaric civilisation, spreading evil around the world.
