Australia wants RI to boost war on terror<\/p>\n
Reuters, Singapore<\/p>\n
Australia on Tuesday urged Indonesia to beef up its domestic
\nanti-terror efforts in the wake of the arrest of dozens of
\nsuspected militants in neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
"We wish to encourage the Indonesian government to combat
\nthese terrorist groupings within Indonesia more effectively than
\nwhat they've been able to (do) to date," Defense Ministers Robert
\nHill told reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Aerospace 2002
\nconference in Singapore.<\/p>\n
"We say that to the background of understanding all the major
\nchallenges that are facing the Indonesian government, but even
\nputting it in that perspective, we would like to see a more
\neffective response," he added.<\/p>\n
"We haven't identified any specific threat to Australia but we
\nthink it would be dangerous to assume that there isn't any
\nbecause we haven't put all the pieces of the jigsaw together,"
\nHill said.<\/p>\n
Singapore and Malaysia have arrested dozens of suspected
\nMuslim militants using laws which allow for detention without
\ntrial. Both countries have pointed to Indonesia, the world's most
\npopulous Islamic state, as home to the ring leaders.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been accused by officials and media in the
\nregion for not taking stronger action against alleged terror
\nsuspects in the sprawling archipelago.<\/p>\n
Singapore's senior minister Lee Kuan Yew said, in a newspaper
\ninterview, that Singapore was still under threat of terrorism as
\nregiional terrorist leaders were roaming around free in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Lee's statement irked the Indonesian government and even some
\nMuslim leaders in the country.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has countered criticism by saying it lacks the laws
\nSingapore and Malaysia use to detain suspects indefinitely
\nwithout charge.<\/p>\n
Hill said Australia was still exploring "linkages between
\nindividuals" in its anti-terror investigations adding that some
\nof those arrested in Singapore had made visits to Australia.<\/p>\n
Hill, who stepped into his role three months ago, will head to
\nJakarta for the first time to meet his Indonesia counterparts
\nfrom March 5 to 8.<\/p>\n
Talks will include discussions on how Australia can lend a
\nhand to Indonesia's anti-terror efforts either through sharing of
\nintelligence or training, Hill said.<\/p>",
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