Formed in 1988 with the stated aim of helping victims of conflict and disaster, it has been linked to providing funding for terrorist organisations such as Jemaah Islamiyah as well as carrying out attacks on local Christian groups.
KOMPAK, an acronym for Komite Aksi Penanggulangan Akibat Krisis or "the Crisis Management/Prevention Committee" is based in Central Sulawesi, a poor region midway between the Christian north and Muslim south.
[3] In December 2001 following hundreds of deaths, local leaders drew up a peace agreement, the Malino II Accord (signed in February 2002), leading to a large reduction in such violence.
[4] KOMPAK formed as a splinter group of leaders from Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) who grew impatient with the perceived bureaucratic nature of that organisation.
In this manner KOMPAK serves as a force multiplier, with locals trained and equipping to fight independently, but at the direction of external (JI or al-Qaeda) leadership when required.
[1] While KOMPAK often functions as the local agent of JI, the leadership reflects differences over longer-term strategies on waging jihad as well as shorter-term impatience.
Although smaller in number and with less political clout then JI, KOMPAK's members willingness to engage in direct violence has made them a threat to the region's stability.
In November 2001, two KOMPAK members of used a nail bomb in an attack on the Petra Church in North Jakarta during an evening service with over 400 worshippers present.