ASIO to open liaison office in Jakarta<\/p>\n
Agencies, Sydney, Australia<\/p>\n
Australia's top intelligence body is setting up a permanent
\noffice in Jakarta as part of moves to step up regional counter-
\nterrorism efforts following the Bali bombing, officials said on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Attorney-General Daryl Williams told parliament the Australian
\nSecurity Intelligence Organization (ASIO) liaison office would be
\nopened with immediate effect.<\/p>\n
"A decision has been made to immediately enhance the ASIO
\npresence in Indonesia," he said.<\/p>\n
The move reflected the government's growing concern with the
\nrise of religious radicalism in Indonesia since the Sept. 11,
\n2001, terrorist attacks and the rout of the al-Qaeda network in
\nAfghanistan.<\/p>\n
Australia had been planning to upgrade its presence in
\nIndonesia since early this year, but swung into action after the
\nOct. 12 bombing in Bali.<\/p>\n
The move came after the government and the intelligence
\ncommunities drew withering criticism for failing to adequately
\nwarn Australians about the danger of traveling to Bali despite
\nreceiving U.S. intelligence reports naming the island as a likely
\nterrorist target.<\/p>\n
More than 90 Australians are thought to have died in the
\nbombing of two nightclubs popular with Western tourists.<\/p>\n
None has claimed responsibility for the attack but Australia
\nhas pointed the finger at religious radicals linked to al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
The government has issued four travel warnings since the
\nblast, urging Australians to leave Indonesia if they are in the
\ncountry for non-essential business.<\/p>\n
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer reiterated the warnings in
\nparliament on Monday, saying that ongoing arrests of Islamic
\nradicals by Indonesian authorities was expected to prompt new
\nattacks on Westerners.<\/p>\n
He warned about threats to "up market" tourism sites in cities
\nand resorts outside major population areas.<\/p>\n
ASIO had previously relied on visits by senior officers to
\nIndonesia to discuss intelligence matters with their Indonesian
\ncounterparts.<\/p>\n
But numerous reports of al-Qaeda links in Indonesia prompted a
\ndecision to set up a permanent presence in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Downer said in Canberra on Monday Australia will
\nfight terrorism in Southeast Asia with diplomacy, not force.<\/p>\n
"We're not planning to send the Australian Defense Force into
\nSoutheast Asia in order to fight the war on terrorism," Downer
\ntold Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday assured the United States
\nthat Australia - one of Washington's closest allies - remained
\ncommitted to the global war on terror following the nightclub
\nbombing on the Indonesian island of Bali, which killed nearly 200
\npeople and injured 300, many of them Australians.<\/p>\n
Australia held a national day of mourning Sunday for its dead.
\nOfficials said on Monday that 92 Australians are confirmed dead
\nor missing. The toll has fallen from the weekend, as some feared
\nmissing from the Oct. 12 attack have been accounted for.<\/p>\n
Downer rejected suggestions from some opposition parties that
\nthe government should withdraw its forces from Afghanistan
\nfollowing the Bali blast.<\/p>\n
Australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to
\nthe U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. The government has also not
\nruled out support for a U.S.-led strike against Iraq, even
\nwithout UN backing, although opposition lawmaker and most
\nAustralians want UN approval before any attack.<\/p>\n
Government critics argue that as a medium-sized economy with
\nrelatively small defense and intelligence services, Australia
\nshould focus efforts against terrorism in its own region.<\/p>\n
Downer said that view implies the government should use troops
\nto fight terror in the region.<\/p>\n
Downer said Monday he expected Indonesian authorities would
\nintensively interrogate Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, who is
\naccused of leading Jamaah Islamiyah, which is believed to be al-
\nQaeda's main ally in Southeast Asia and is suspected in the
\nnightclub attack.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asio-to-open-liaison-office-in-jakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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