1985 Borobudur bombing

Terrorist attack in a Buddhist temple 1985 Borobudur bombing Borobudur Bombing 1985.jpg The damage of several stupas of Borobudur upper terraces caused by Borobudur Bombing terrorist attack on 21 January 1985 Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia Borobudur Temple 1985 01 21 yes https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/21/Nine-bombs-exploded-in-the-1100-year-old-Borobudur-temple-in/7717475131600/ United Press International Nine bombs exploded in the 1,100-year-old Borobudur temple in... 1985-01-21 UTC + 7 Bombing terrorist attack 0 0 Ibrahim Djawad Abdulkadir Ali Al-Habsyi Husein Ali Al HabsyiPratama A. N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia Journal of Indonesian History 8 2 121–134 2019 https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih Retaliation for the Tanjung Priok massacre Indonesia Java#Indonesia S 7 36 28 110 12 13 Magelang bottom Nine bombs were detonated at the Borobudur Buddhist temple located in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia, on 21 January 1985. There were no human casualties in this attack; however, nine stupas on the upper levels sustained heavy damage.Nine bombs exploded in the 1,100-year-old Borobudur temple in... - UPI Archives https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/21/Nine-bombs-exploded-in-the-1100-year-old-Borobudur-temple-in/7717475131600/ 2025-03-29 UPI en Background After Indonesia’s invitation to UNESCO in 1967 to assess the condition of Borobudur, a UNESCO team conducted a site survey in 1968 and recommended funds, expertise and equipment for restoring the monument.UNESCO The Restoration of Borobudur https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000143333 2025-03-29 UNESCO 58 The UNESCO-led restoration campaign from 1973 to 1983 was completed with financial and technical assistance from different countries.UNESCO 2005 The Restoration of Borobudur https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000143333 2025-03-29 UNESCO 9 The UNESCO restoration project elevated Borobudur’s global significance and was described by President Suharto as not just an Indonesian monument but also a treasure for all humanity.Bloembergen Marieke Save Borobudur! The Moral Dynamics of Heritage Formation in Indonesia across Orders and Borders, 1930s–1980s 2015 Cultural Heritage as Civilizing Mission: From Decay to Recovery 83–119 Falser Michael https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 2025-03-29 Cham Springer International Publishing en 10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 978-3-319-13638-7 Eickhoff Martijn subscription The restoration took place within the context of Suharto’s New Order regime, which proclaimed Borobudur as a national cultural monument and restricted its use as an active religious site.Bloembergen Marieke Save Borobudur! The Moral Dynamics of Heritage Formation in Indonesia across Orders and Borders, 1930s–1980s 2015 Cultural Heritage as Civilizing Mission: From Decay to Recovery 83–119 Falser Michael https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 2025-03-29 Cham Springer International Publishing en 10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 978-3-319-13638-7 Eickhoff Martijn subscription Reframed as a national monument and international tourist attraction, the government established control over the site by building enclosures and reconfiguring the layout of space as part of a broader strategy to foster nationalism and modernization.Errington Shelly 1993 Making Progress on Borobudur: An old monument in New Order https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1525/var.1993.9.2.32 Visual Anthropology Review en 9 2 32–59 10.1525/var.1993.9.2.32 1548-7458 subscription During this period, the New Order government addressed ideological threats such as Communism and militant Islam by reinforcing Indonesia’s state philosophy, Pancasila, promoting it as a unifying form of nationalism. The government faced significant religious pressures, notably from Islamic leaders who criticized the imposition of Pancasila as the sole ideological foundation for all organisations, viewing it as the marginalization of Islam.Ricklefs M. C. A History of Modern Indonesia since c. 1300 1993 Macmillan Education UK 978-1-349-22700-6 2nd London 306 The Borobudur bombing occurred against a backdrop of rising religious tensions in Indonesia, with the government cracking down on Islamic radicalism. With transnational Islamic movements gaining strength, the New Order regime considered Islamic radicalism as a threat because it presented an ideological alternative to the secular state’s authority.Vickers Adrian A history of modern Indonesia 2013 Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-62445-0 2nd Cambridge 183 Just months before the bombing, there was an incident at Tanjung Priok, where military personnel opened fire at Muslim demonstrators outside a mosque in Jakarta in September 1984. Local mosque officials had been arrested for refusing to take down banners critical of the government, and demonstrators were protesting their release. The unrest that followed resulted in rioters being gunned down. Official figures put the number of fatalities at 24, although unofficial estimates were higher.Baldwin Chelsie 2020 The Internal and External Manifestations of Cultural Nationalism: A Borobudur Case Study https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n7324/pdf/06_baldwin.pdf ANU Historical Journal II ANU Press 2 119 There was widespread anger from this incident, and political tensions intensified in Indonesia in late 1984.Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 Incident On 21 January 1985, starting from 01:30 WIB (UTC+07:00) and ending at 03:30, a series of nine explosions was heard at Borobudur Temple.Ariska Rindi Kilas Balik Teror Bom Candi Borobudur Pada 1985 https://www.tempo.co/hukum/kilas-balik-teror-bom-candi-borobudur-pada-1985-95454 2025-03-29 Tempo id A total of 13 explosives were planted: four on the upper terrace, five on the second terrace and four on the third terrace after the perpetrators arrived at the temple around 20:00 WIB on 20 January. The bombs were timed to detonate around 5 hours later.Pratama, A. N., Sodiq, I., & Suryadi, A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 Eventually, nine bombs exploded, and two were defused by the bomb disposal team which arrived at 05:30. Another two were discovered on 15 February.Ariska Rindi Kilas Balik Teror Bom Candi Borobudur Pada 1985 https://www.tempo.co/hukum/kilas-balik-teror-bom-candi-borobudur-pada-1985-95454 2025-03-29 Tempo idPratama, A. N., Sodiq, I., & Suryadi, A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 The surrounding community heard the explosions and felt the shockwaves. Security personnel at Borobudur contacted the authorities.Pratama, A. N., Sodiq, I., & Suryadi, A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 While no injuries were reported, authorities observed heavy damage to nine stupas which collapsed. Several Buddha statues were damaged and found broken among scattered stone rubble.Archives L. A. Times 1985-01-22 9 Blasts Rip Largest Buddhist Temple https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-22-mn-10944-story.html 2025-03-29 Los Angeles Times en-USAriska Rindi Kilas Balik Teror Bom Candi Borobudur Pada 1985 https://www.tempo.co/hukum/kilas-balik-teror-bom-candi-borobudur-pada-1985-95454 Tempo id Government and international response No group claimed responsibility immediately, although authorities suspected Muslim extremists were involved.Archives L. A. Times 1985-01-22 9 Blasts Rip Largest Buddhist Temple https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-22-mn-10944-story.html 2025-03-29 Los Angeles Times en-USNine bombs exploded in the 1,100-year-old Borobudur temple in... - UPI Archives https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/01/21/Nine-bombs-exploded-in-the-1100-year-old-Borobudur-temple-in/7717475131600/ 2025-03-29 UPI en On the same day, Suharto denounced the attack, framing it as an affront not only to Indonesian national pride but also to world heritage.Bloembergen Marieke Save Borobudur! The Moral Dynamics of Heritage Formation in Indonesia across Orders and Borders, 1930s–1980s 2015 Cultural Heritage as Civilizing Mission: From Decay to Recovery 83–119 Falser Michael https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 2025-03-29 Cham Springer International Publishing en 10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 978-3-319-13638-7 Eickhoff Martijn subscription Suharto’s response secularized the incident by emphasizing Borobudur’s role as “a national, even a world monument”, instead of acknowledging its religious significance. This strategic framing enabled the government to condemn religious extremists while positioning Borobudur as a neutral heritage site of global importance.Baldwin Chelsie 2020 The Internal and External Manifestations of Cultural Nationalism: A Borobudur Case Study https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n7324/pdf/06_baldwin.pdf ANU Historical Journal II 2 119 In light of how the Indonesian state had situated Borobudur culturally and politically, and the role of the international community in its recent 1983 restoration, the bombing incident drew international attention and concern, with UNESCO offering support for its restoration.Bloembergen Marieke Save Borobudur! The Moral Dynamics of Heritage Formation in Indonesia across Orders and Borders, 1930s–1980s 2015 Cultural Heritage as Civilizing Mission: From Decay to Recovery 83–119 Falser Michael https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 2025-03-29 Cham Springer International Publishing en 10.1007/978-3-319-13638-7_5 978-3-319-13638-7 Eickhoff Martijn subscription The Tanjung Priok incident had earlier given the government reason to crack down on Islamic radicalism, leading to arrests of outspoken religious leaders, politicians and hardliners.Vickers Adrian A history of modern Indonesia 2013 Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01947-8 2nd Cambridge 184 As the perpetrators of the Borobudur bombing were reportedly acting in retaliation for Tanjung Priok, the attack created a cycle of religious tension that in turn enabled the government to justify vigilance against religious extremism.Baldwin Chelsie 2020 The Internal and External Manifestations of Cultural Nationalism: A Borobudur Case Study https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n7324/pdf/06_baldwin.pdf ANU Historical Journal II 2 119 Investigation and arrests Around two months of investigation did not see conclusive results, with the authorities interrogating around 50 people who were eventually released due to insufficient evidence.Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 A breakthrough came when an explosion occurred on a Pemudi Express Bus in Banyuwangi and resulted in the arrest of Abdulkadir Ali Al-Habsyi who provided the key to the unravelling of the network of perpetrators, which included Achmad Muladawila and Abdulkadir Braja who were subsequently arrested. Authorities also identified Husein Ali Al Habsyi and Ibrahim Djawad as key figures in the attack.Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 The perpetrators’ motivations for the attack included revenge for the killing of Muslim protestors in Tanjung Priok and opposition to the government’s enforcement of Pancasila.Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 It is believed that the militants saw Borobudur as a symbol of kufr ("disbelief")Pinault D. 2003 Indonesia's Buddhist heritage America America Press, Inc. New York 189 17 17 and idolatry, attacking it to defy the government for making it a national monument. Indeed, Ibrahim Djawad had said during a lecture that the government deliberately carried out the restoration of Borobudur to "compete with the purity of Islam".Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 Abdulkadir Ali Al-Habsyi and Achmad Muladawila were each sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Abdulkadir Braja received 13 years. Husein Ali Al Habsyi was sentenced to life imprisonment, but was granted clemency by President B. J. Habibie and released in 1999. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Djawad was among those who escaped arrest by going abroad.Pratama A.N. Sodiq I. Suryadi A. 2019 Sejarah pengeboman Candi Borobudur tahun 1985: Tinjauan sejarah sosial politik di Indonesia [History of the 1985 Borobudur Temple bombing: A socio-political historical review in Indonesia] https://journal.unnes.ac.id/sju/index.php/jih 2025-03-29 Journal of Indonesian History, 8(2), 121–134 See also List of Islamist terrorist attacks References 30em Indonesia Category:Religious building bombings in Indonesia Category:20th century in Central Java Category:Borobudur Category:Crime in Java Category:1985 building bombings Category:Persecution of Buddhists by Muslims Category:January 1985 in Asia Category:Islamic terrorism in Indonesia Category:Terrorist incidents in Indonesia in 1985 Category:Islamic terrorist incidents in the 1980s Category:January 1985 in Indonesia