3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good background story on how the worldwide Islamic Insurrection is maturing in Indonesia, August 26, 2005
This review is from: Allah's Torch: A Report from Behind the Scenes in Asia's War on Terror (Hardcover)
Allah's Torch is a very good book on how the worldwide Islamic Insurrection is maturing in Indonesia. While done in a somewhat story/journalistic format (it has specific dates and places and some names are changed but it does not appear that the primary people who someone wanting to conduct research on the subject have had their names changed such as Abu Bakar Bashir, Imam Samudra, Jaffar Umar Thalib, etc and the names of groups have not been changed however, his guides names probably have). It starts with him traveling with his guide in May 2000 on an inter-island passenger ferry on his way to the Banda Islands and the Mollucas. On the same ferry was a large group of Laskar Jihad enroute to conduct a Jihad. He describes the climate on the ship and the island themselves. Of course he meets additional friends (and some potential enemies) along the way. After conducting his research of the situation in the Banda/Molluca Islands between the Christians and Moslems in the area he goes back to the U.S. and starts to write his book. Then the Bali Bombing happened and he goes back to Indonesia to see what has changed in the country since. He meets up with his previous guide (and by then friend) who intoduces him to someone else who will assist them in getting inside the Islamic organizations (you find out later he was also a terrorist/freedom fighter depending on your point of view). From there they interview and have general discussions with a range of personnel from a student of a Pesantren that is known for producing Islamic fighters to the head of Islamic organizations. This book gives a very good overview of what was the Islamic/Christian situation situation from 2000 to the end of 2003 in Indonesia and makes some observations from the outside looking in during early 2004. This was a very good and readable book that I enjoyed very much.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A different viewpoint of Indonesia, March 5, 2005
This review is from: Allah's Torch: A Report from Behind the Scenes in Asia's War on Terror (Hardcover)
As an Indonesian this book really encourages me. The
author must be crazy for going into places like the
Banda Islands at a time of religious conflict in the
area, but he has tried to cover the country from all
angles. He shines a light on the fact that, in spite
of how Indonesia is often portrayed on CNN and FOX
News focusing on Al Qaeda, the biggest majority of
Indonesian "wong cilik"(ordinary people) are trying
hard to improve their lives after the 1997 Asian
financial crisis, want good governance, reject
terrorism, and try to change their country for the
better. I believe most ordinary Indonesian will easily
relate to Norman, Reza, Tanya, and all the characters
in the book.
In guiding readers through the maze of Indonesia,
exotic and unknown to most people in the West, the
author captures this daily struggle for survival
against corruption, elitism, and chaos. And it's in
that chaos that the minority of extremists find their
followers - people who are fed up with the country's
unimproved conditions.
A serious book yet I could not contain my laughter at
times because the author describes not only the
country's fears and sense of tragic irony but its
sense of humor, too.. So the non-Indonesian reader
will get a glimpse of all aspects of the Indonesian
people, their intelligence and wit, their
superstitions, and their resourcefulness. The book
might be confusing at times for the "novice on
Indonesia," but people interested in a journey through
the most democratic Muslim country in the world need
to pick it up.
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