One of the biggest fears of some people concerning aid to the tsunami was that the funds would end up in the hands of the wrong people. Everyone, including myself, who donated money to the tsunami areas intended the money to go to those who needed it the most. According to The Scotsman however, some of the money given appears to have ended up in the hands of Al Qaida linked Jemaah Islamiya.*

CHARITABLE donations to help people affected by the Asian tsunami disaster are falling into the hands of radical Islamic groups linked to terrorists in Indonesia, a leading expert on the global al-Qaeda network warned yesterday.

Relief money had become the “primary source” of income for two militant groups, including one founded by a Muslim cleric [ed. Abu Bakar Bashir] serving a prison sentence in connection with the Bali bombing in 2002 in which more than 200 people were killed.

Without question giving aid to those affected by the tsunami was needed, but I am a long-time advocate of personal donations versus government-funded donations. As with any charity, there are charities which have tight restrictions to what the money goes for and charities who do not. Did a government-funded donation end up in the hands of a radical Islamic terrorist group?

The only reason I ask the above question is because I would rather know that personal donations were led astray by either giving to the wrong charity or a mismanagement of funds than funds directly from a government. It is far easier for me understand people would not do their research into a specific charity rather than a government. Then again, it would not shock me completely if some of the money given by the United States, Brazil, France, etc. might end up in the wrong hands on error.

* The article mentions two radical Islamic groups, Mujahideen Kompak and Majelis Mujahideen Indonesia (MMI), that might have received funds however those two groups are more political in nature (if there can be such a thing). There is a link to Jemaah Islamiya which is regarded as the militant side to radical Islam in the area.