The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Jakarta

The self-confessed head of Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiah (JI) went on trial in Indonesia on Monday, as the battle against a group blamed for a string of deadly attacks resumed in the court room.

Zarkasih, 45, was arrested in June after operations involving the country's anti-terrorist unit, Detachment 88, which also netted the movement's alleged military chief, Abu Dujana. The arrests were regarded as a major blow for JI, the group blamed for the 2002 Bali bombings, in which more than 200 people were killed, as well as many other attacks in Indonesia. Prosecutors said Zarkasih, who has several aliases, had taken part in "a criminal conspiracy by aiding terrorist acts."