Secretary of State Colin Powell declared Indonesia's Jemaah Islamiya a terrorist organization in an October 23 statement.

"I am announcing the designation of the Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI), which was founded by Abdullah Sungkar, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization," Powell said.

"I am also announcing the designation of JI under Executive Order 13224," he added.

Powell said the United States would join other nations, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor Leste (East Timor) in requesting the United Nations sanctions committee "include JI on its consolidated list of individuals and entities the assets of which member states are required to freeze in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1390."

U.S. Department of State
Office of the Spokesman
October 23, 2002

The United States is taking several important steps today as part of our continuing efforts to combat global terrorism. I am announcing the designation of the Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI), which was founded by Abdullah Sungkar, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. I am also announcing the designation of JI under Executive Order 13224.

In addition to these actions, the United States will join Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Timor Leste (East Timor), and other partners around the world to ask the relevant United Nations sanctions committee to include JI on its consolidated list of individuals and entities the assets of which member states are required to freeze in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1390. This joint referral to the UN sanctions committee is a powerful signal that the countries of Southeast Asia will not tolerate terrorism on their territory and that they are committed to working with the international community to put a stop to wanton acts of terror.

In making this joint referral, the United States does not wish to imply that we have come to a conclusion about responsibility for the devastating Bali bombings on October 12. Investigation into those bombings continues in Indonesia. The United States and its partners in the global war on terrorism have long had concerns about the activities of the JI. Today's designation of this group by the United States and the referral to the United Nations are the result of a process that has been underway since well before the Bali bombings.

Today's actions mark the first time the United States has simultaneously designated a terrorist group as an FTO, designated it under Executive Order 13224, and requested the relevant UN sanctions committee to include it on the list of those against which sanctions should be applied. We hope these steps put Jemaah Islamiya out of the terrorism business.

The FTO designation allows the United States to block the organization's assets in U.S. financial institutions; criminalizes the knowing provision of material support or resources to the organization; and allows members of the organization to be excluded from the United States. Designation under EO 13224 also blocks the property and interests in property of the organization in the U.S. or held by U.S. persons, and authorizes the U.S. to subsequently designate and block the assets of individuals and entities that are owned or controlled by, act for or on behalf of, provide support or services to, or are otherwise associated with the organization.

The UN Security Council Resolutions require all Member States to take certain actions against the organization, including freezing the organization's assets and denying it access to funds and other financial assets or economic resources, preventing the supply or sale of weapons to the organization, and preventing members of the organization from entering or traveling through their territories.

Jemaah Islamiya, which has been in existence for many years, is an extremist group with cells operating throughout Southeast Asia. JI's stated goal is to create an Islamic state comprising Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and the southern Philippines. JI planned to conduct bombings of the U.S. Embassy in Singapore and the interests of several other countries in December 2001. JI members recently arrested in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have revealed links with al-Qaida.

With the designation of Jemaah Islamiya, the number of foreign terrorist organizations is now 35.

The recent terrorist attack in Bali claimed victims from 29 countries -- the worst attack since September 11, 2001. It is an example of how terrorism threatens democratic institutions, undermines economies, and destabilizes regions. The frontlines on terrorism are everywhere. The world's response to these heinous crimes must be comprehensive, and steadfast.