The Jihadi factor in Mombasa riots that should worry us all

[Ab-Titchaz]

The jihadi factor in Mombasa riots that should worry us all


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By RASHID ABDI
Posted Wednesday, August 29 2012 at 21:35

In Summary

• The ferocious speed, scale and sophistication of the riots clearly suggest a level of preparedness and the prior presence of structures of violence.
• And suspicion will inevitably fall on the plethora of secretive and autonomous jihadi networks operating in the Coast.
• That the extremists seek to milk the unrest to maximum political advantage is in no doubt. A large-scale and prolonged unrest suits their plan well.

The violence in Mombasa should serve as a tragic reminder of what truly ails this country - the inflamed and radicalised ethnic, regional and religious passions that risk tearing this nation apart.

If history is any guide, there will be no epiphany in its wake; no lessons learnt. We will just shrug it off as a fact of life - indeed, as the "new normal".

This cynicism partly stems from the fact that we have become de-sensitised and accustomed to large-scale violence.

Our threshold of what level of violence is tolerable has gone up markedly, seemingly in direct correspondence to the rise in inter-communal strife.

This complacency, in itself, must be deeply disconcerting for anyone who cares about the wellbeing of this country.

But there are equally other reasons why the mayhem in Mombasa should worry us. The protest is no longer spontaneous.

Much of it is now directed by a broad array of extremists forces that have now found common cause and appear intent on making the city ungovernable.

The ferocious speed, scale and sophistication of the riots clearly suggest a level of preparedness and the prior presence of structures of violence.

And suspicion will inevitably fall on the plethora of secretive and autonomous jihadi networks operating in the Coast.

That the extremists seek to milk the unrest to maximum political advantage is in no doubt. A large-scale and prolonged unrest suits their plan well.

First, it will harden attitudes and scuttle the planned dialogue between the state and the Mombasa Republican Council.

Second, a radicalised Mombasa Republican Council will become amenable to the jihadi message and easy to co-opt.

Third, the violence will hurt the economy and in their eyes weaken the hated centre further.

Those who killed Aboud Rogo have certainly turned him into a jihadi martyr and compounded extremism in a strategic and vital for the region.

A marginal preacher, who used his fiery sermons at Masjid Musa to glorify violence and preach intolerance, and whose radical politics alienated many moderate Muslims, has suddenly been catapulted to national fame.

The fact that he admired Al-Shabaab and glorified violence does not make his killing less criminal and his killers less culpable.

If he was actively aiding and abetting terrorism in the country, as some allege, he should have been put on trial.

There is speculation in Muslim circles Aboud Rogo was the first high-profile victim of domestic pre-emptive counter-terrorism.

This may be conspiratorial and impossible to independently verify, but it is nonetheless a perception now widely held, and which the state needs to deal with urgently.

And for one crucial reason: it could solidify Muslim opposition to the new Anti-Terrorism Bill and scuttle any hope this country may have had of making progress on counter-terrorism.

The writer is the religious editor at the Nation Media Group

The jihadi factor in Mombasa riots that should worry us all- Opinion|nation.co.ke

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

Assassinations, Disappearances, and Riots: What

 

[chash]

I still think that one of the drone like methods that Kenya uses to finish ganglike characters when there is no enough evidence to prosecute them is to terminate them outside the law. An example is mungiki who were quickly put in their place without so much court procedures. Also this rogue guy could have been a victim. When there were alot of bank robberies in Kenya which spilled to Tanzania the same tactics seem to have been used. Personally I would support this system but it has loopholes to be misused. Now, where are the two iranians who had the big bomb making powder and were released by the courts, they better start running.

 

[Kabaridi]

There has been a lot of debate in Kenya, starting all the way back in 2003, about passing an anti-terrorism legislation that would be discriminatory towards the Muslim community. This debate has picked up steam again and a bill is now with parliament for review. Some government officials say the bill has been amended to respond to its critics. Do you still have concerns with this bill?

I believe that we do need anti-terrorism legislation, but it must conform to the new constitution, including the bill of rights, and international human rights standards. In the past, civil society has prevented the adoption of anti-terrorism laws because of what they allowed the state to do. Currently, the draft bill still gives too much power [to the state], allows for no oversight, and allows for too many derogations of rights. Provisions on seizing property, intercepting communications, and clamping down on organizational activities goes against the freedom of assembly. There's no judicial recourse for the law's enforcement, and it criminalizes the lawyer-client relationship. I'm also concerned that the bill could be used not just for counterterrorism operations, but also to suppress political opposition. There are also a lot of newly discovered natural resources, like oil and gas, in Muslim populated areas, and there is concern that the laws could be used against Muslims in order to reap the benefits of those resources. We want to see provisions in the bill that punish unlawful counterterrorism activities. Anti-terrorism authorities have to be held accountable for their actions.

Wanafiki "political opposition. " kumbe hata upinzani wana hofu na hii bill ya anti terrorism. Ikiwa mtu sio gaidi kwa nini uwe na hofu lakini waona wahalifu walivyo. Wakae chini ya vyombo vya dola. Wakati raia wanaathirika kutokana na shughuli za kigaidi hivi vyombo vya dola hazizungumzi haya mambo. Au wao ndio magaidi wakubwa?

 

[MAMMAMIA]

Sikuwa ninafuatilia wala kujishughulisha na mambo ya Kenya/KDF na Somalia/Al-Shabaab mpaka mwishoni mwa mwaka jana ambapo nimekuwa nikitafsiri kwa Kiswahili habari, matukio na makala za Sabahionline.com. Kuanzia wakati, pamoja na kuwa kazi yangu ni mfasiri tu, lakini ninajisi kama sehemu na kuathirika na kila kitu kinachotokea katika Pembe ya Afrika.

Moja ya matukio yaliyoniathiri ni habari hii: Kituo cha Vijana wa Kiislamu kinalenga kusababisha mapigano ya kidini Kenya, wachambuzi wasema. - Sabahionline.com, iliyochapishwa tarehe 22/08. Moyoni nikajisemea: "Kenya na Mashariki yote ya Afrika haitakuwa salama tena kama serikali ya Kenya itawafumbia macho wapuuzi hawa." Na kweli, siku tano tu baadaye, Vijana wa Kiislamu wakaingia kazini (Kituo cha Vijana wa Kiislamu chaapa kulipiza mauaji ya kiongozi wake Rogo - Sabahionline.com).

Ninachotaka kusema hapa na kusisitiza, ni kuwa sio serikali ya Kenya bali nchi zote za Mashariki ya Afrika na Afrika ya Mashariki kwa makusudi ziandae mpango kabambe wa kuzuwia fujo hizo, vyenginevyo tutakuja lazimika kujenga ukuta badala ya kuziba ufa. Hakuna sumu inayoenea haraka kama chochoko za kidini na kikabila. Yaliyotokea Rwanda na Sudan, pamoja na nchi za Afrika ya Magharibi zingetosha kutufumbua macho na kusema, HAPANA kwenye ukanda wetu.

Kwa upande mwengine ninawapongeza Wakristo wa Kenya kwa uvumilivu wao juu ya matendo ya magaidi wanaotumia Uislamu; (naepuka kuwaita magaidi wa Kiislamu kwani hawa sio Waislamu hata kidogo. Uislamu pamoja na sifa zake nyengine ni amani, upendo na kuvumiliana, mambo ambayo hawa jamaa hawana kabisa.) Tayari jamaa hawa wamekuwa wakichoma moto makanisa, wanayaripua kwa mabomu na kuua watu wasio na hatia na bado Wakristo wanaendelea kutoa shavu baada ya shavu. Kama Wakristo wangekosa uvumilivu, basi wao wangekuwa wa mwanzo kulipiza kisasi juu ya ukatili na ujinga wa watu wanaojiita Waislamu. Iweje leo "Waislamu" hawa wanaripuka na wito wa damu kwa damu baada ya mtu wao kuuliwa? Katika hali ya kawaida ningemhurumia Rogo, lakini amevuna alichopanda, aliishi kwa upanga, amekufa kwa upanga.

Ninazungumza haya mimi mwenyewe nikiwa Muislamu na ninajivunia imani yangu, ingawa ninajihisi kutiwa aibu na hawa wanaojiita Waislamu kwani hawana nafasi katika dini hii.

 

[Bukyanagandi]

Sikuwa ninafuatilia wala kujishughulisha na mambo ya Kenya/KDF na Somalia/Al-Shabaab mpaka mwishoni mwa mwaka jana ambapo nimekuwa nikitafsiri kwa Kiswahili habari, matukio na makala za Sabahionline.com. Kuanzia wakati, pamoja na kuwa kazi yangu ni mfasiri tu, lakini ninajisi kama sehemu na kuathirika na kila kitu kinachotokea katika Pembe ya Afrika.

Moja ya matukio yaliyoniathiri ni habari hii: Kituo cha Vijana wa Kiislamu kinalenga kusababisha mapigano ya kidini Kenya, wachambuzi wasema. - Sabahionline.com, iliyochapishwa tarehe 22/08. Moyoni nikajisemea: "Kenya na Mashariki yote ya Afrika haitakuwa salama tena kama serikali ya Kenya itawafumbia macho wapuuzi hawa." Na kweli, siku tano tu baadaye, Vijana wa Kiislamu wakaingia kazini (Kituo cha Vijana wa Kiislamu chaapa kulipiza mauaji ya kiongozi wake Rogo - Sabahionline.com).

Ninachotaka kusema hapa na kusisitiza, ni kuwa sio serikali ya Kenya bali nchi zote za Mashariki ya Afrika na Afrika ya Mashariki kwa makusudi ziandae mpango kabambe wa kuzuwia fujo hizo, vyenginevyo tutakuja lazimika kujenga ukuta badala ya kuziba ufa. Hakuna sumu inayoenea haraka kama chochoko za kidini na kikabila. Yaliyotokea Rwanda na Sudan, pamoja na nchi za Afrika ya Magharibi zingetosha kutufumbua macho na kusema, HAPANA kwenye ukanda wetu.

Kwa upande mwengine ninawapongeza Wakristo wa Kenya kwa uvumilivu wao juu ya matendo ya magaidi wanaotumia Uislamu; (naepuka kuwaita magaidi wa Kiislamu kwani hawa sio Waislamu hata kidogo. Uislamu pamoja na sifa zake nyengine ni amani, upendo na kuvumiliana, mambo ambayo hawa jamaa hawana kabisa.) Tayari jamaa hawa wamekuwa wakichoma moto makanisa, wanayaripua kwa mabomu na kuua watu wasio na hatia na bado Wakristo wanaendelea kutoa shavu baada ya shavu. Kama Wakristo wangekosa uvumilivu, basi wao wangekuwa wa mwanzo kulipiza kisasi juu ya ukatili na ujinga wa watu wanaojiita Waislamu. Iweje leo "Waislamu" hawa wanaripuka na wito wa damu kwa damu baada ya mtu wao kuuliwa? Katika hali ya kawaida ningemhurumia Rogo, lakini amevuna alichopanda, aliishi kwa upanga, amekufa kwa upanga.

Ninazungumza haya mimi mwenyewe nikiwa Muislamu na ninajivunia imani yangu, ingawa ninajihisi kutiwa aibu na hawa wanaojiita Waislamu kwani hawana nafasi katika dini hii.

Asante sana mkuu, hata mimi niko concern na matukio haya ya kigaidi - kama unavyo sema nchi zetu za Africa Mashariki zinapaswa kushirikiana katika kupeana taarifa za ki-intelijensia na kushikamana kuwazuia magaidi hawa wasilete madhala zaidi katika ukanda wetu.

Kuna matukio ya kushtua ambayo ufanyika/tendeka kutokana na binadamu wenzetu, mtu unashindwa kuelewa kama kweli magaidi hawa ni a FOUR CHAMBER HEARTED humans au la! Chukulia mambo ya kujilipua/kulipua mabomu na kuhua binadamu kwa halaiki, kisa eti wanatetea imani zao!! Mwisilaam wa kweli hawezi ku-advocate matendo ya kigaidi hata siku moja, hawa ma-fanatics sijuhi huwa wanapata mafunzo wapi? nasikia Pakistani inaongoza kwa kuwadanganya vijana wadogo wajiunge na vikundi hivi vya kigaidi!

Niliwahi kusoma habari somewhere kwamba Raisi Bush Jr baada ya majengo ya trade center kulipuliwa na ndege za abaria, siku hiyo akaomba atafutiwe kitabu cha KORAN iliyo tafusiliwa kwenye Kingereza - Raisi wa watu sijuhi alitumia siku ngapi kumaliza kusoma Kitabu hicho! Kitu kilichomshangaza, alisema alisoma kitabu kizima page by page lakini hakukutana na mstari wowote unao zungumzia waislaam kuhua watu, kujihua au kuwa wakatili na kutojali binadamu wenzao, alisema kitabu kinazungumzia binadamu kuheshimiana, kujaliana na mambo ya amani tu! Akajuhuliza sasa vijana hawa ambao wengi wao walikuwa wanatoka Saudi Arabia, imekuwaje wakateka ndege wakijuwa fika kwamba na wao wanakwenda kufa lakini kwa kuwa wanakwenda ku-teach a lesson a GREAT SATAN, basi hilo tu la kujitolea muhanga lita wafanya waenda mbinguni moja kwa moja. Wengi wao walikuwa ni wasomi na ma-degree yao sasa inakuwaje wanakuwa brainwashed kirahisi hivyo - swali hilo Bush hakupata jibu mpaka anaodoka Madarakani, si Bush tu watu wengi Duniani suala hilo huwa alina majibu!

Kama kuna mahala wanaona hawatendewi haki, basi wawe wawazi ili Dunia i-address malalamiko yao kwa uwazi, lakini hili la kutumia terror ili kufikisha ujumbe hiyo ndio MBAYA zaidi.

 

[MAMMAMIA]

Kuna matukio ya kushtua ambayo ufanyika/tendeka kutokana na binadamu wenzetu, mtu unashindwa kuelewa kama kweli magaidi hawa ni a FOUR CHAMBER HEARTED humans au la! Chukulia mambo ya kujilipua/kulipua mabomu na kuhua binadamu kwa halaiki, kisa eti wanatetea imani zao!! Mwisilaam wa kweli hawezi ku-advocate matendo ya kigaidi hata siku moja, hawa ma-fanatics sijuhi huwa wanapata mafunzo wapi? nasikia Pakistani inaongoza kwa kuwadanganya vijana wadogo wajiunge na vikundi hivi vya kigaidi!

Kusema kweli unyama wa watu hawa umepitiza kiasi. Kwa bahati wakati ninaona post yako nilikuwa ninaangalia video ya Taliban wanavyoonesha vichwa vya askari waliowaua. Ingawa video iko kwa lugha ya Kispanish, lakini picha inasema zaidi kuliko maneno. Siku tano tu zilizopita waliwakata vichwa vijana 17, kisa walikuwa wanacheza mziki halafu waniambie kuwa wao ni Waislamu? Hapana. N kizazi kipya cha Shetani.
[video]http://es.noticias.yahoo.com/video/mundo-1428526/talibanes-exhiben-decapitados-30466556.html[/video]