There are conflicting theories on the origin of the name Lashkar-e-Omar.  According to some reports, LeO is named after Mullah Mohammed Omar, chief of the Taliban militia. Other sources allege that the name is a direct homage to Syed Ahmed Omar Sheikh, a front-ranking Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist.  On July 15, 2002, Sheikh Omar was sentenced to life in prison by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Hyderabad, Sindh, for his role in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl.  LeO's ideology is a mixture of Islamist fundamentalism and totalitarian thinking.  Their version of Islam is similar to that of Afghanistan's Taliban militia.  Sheikh Omar, Faruqui, and their colleagues were associated with terrorist training camps in Afghanistan during the Taliban's reign. Sheikh Omar was reportedly an instructor at one such camp. <P><br /><br />Reports indicate that the LeO also includes some Islamist parties allied with Osama bin Laden's International Islamic Front (IIF) that survived US air strikes in Afghanistan and crossed over into Pakistan.  Most of the key members of the coalition are veterans of the 1980s jihad in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union.

Nusantara Islamic Jihad Forces -- Supported Cause

allegedly funded by Indonesian military.

In March 2002, the Indonesian government brokered a peace deal in Maluku, stemming the conflict which had killed thousands.  Laskar Jihad's main battlefield was now essentially peaceful, but the group continued operations in other parts of Indonesia. On October 12th, 2002, Laskar Jihad announced they were disbanding.  Some sources say the group was forced to disarm by the Indonesian government, while others say the group ended their military operations to focus on gaining political power.  Just hours after their announcement, a powerful bombing perpetrated by Jemaah Islamiya, another Islamic terrorist group in Indonesia, killed over 200 people in Bali.  Laskar Jihad leadership denied any role in the bombing, and said their announcement to disband had nothing to do with the attack.  While most people accept this explanation, the timing of Laskar's announcement is an almost unbelievable coincidence. <P><br /><br />As Laskar Jihad closed their offices and deactivated their website, many feared that the moves were nothing more then a ploy to avoid a government crackdown.  Indeed, although Laskar Jihad activities have ceased in Maluku, various reports say the group has re-formed, and as recently as October 2005, was operating in the Indonesian province of West Papua as well as the Solomon Islands.  At present, it is impossible to say that the group is inactive, and it is quite possible that Laskar Jihad could re-emerge as a dangerous and violent force in Indonesia.<br />