Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies Singapore

Abstract

The General Guide for the Struggle of Al-Jama’ah Al-Islamiyah (Pedoman Umum Perjuangan Al-Jama’ah Al-Islamiyah) – commonly known under its acronym PUPJI – is an essential document for understanding Southeast Asia’s most deadly terror network. Issued by Jemaah Islamiyah’s Central Executive Council (Qiyadah Markaziyah), it outlines the group’s administrative structure and guiding religious principles, in addition to providing insights into its organizational development, membership recruitment, and operational strategy. From the time Jemaah Islamiyah was established on January 1, 1993 – as the result of an internal split within the Darul Islam (DI) movement – until the time it first engaged in terrorist activities – with the Medan church bombings on May 28, 2000 – the group was structured and managed in accordance with this handbook. To understand Jemaah Islamiyah, therefore, we must understand PUPJI.