Better intelligence gathering called for<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Denpasar<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged the international
\ncommunity on Wednesday to co-ordinate and create a global
\nintelligence network that could more effectively fight
\ninternational terrorism.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the opening of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial
\nConference on Terrorism in Nusa Dua, Megawati referred to
\nIndonesia's experiences hunting the perpetrators of terrorist
\nattacks in Bali and Jakarta.<\/p>\n
With the help of other countries -- Australia, the U.S. and
\nJapan -- Indonesia quickly arrested and put on trial the
\nterrorists who killed more than 200 people in Bali in October
\n2002, she said. With international help the government also found
\nthose responsible for the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in
\nJakarta in August last year.<\/p>\n
"We need to have a better coordination mechanism so that
\ncounter-terrorism operations in this region can be designed and
\nconducted more effectively. I am of the high expectation that, in
\nthis conference, you will be able to agree on such a crucial
\ncoordination mechanism."<\/p>\n
Megawati said terrorist attacks in Bali two years ago had
\nawakened the world to the dangers of terrorism on a global scale.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had committed itself to fight terrorism and hunt
\ndown all its perpetrators and would never bow to terrorists'
\nthreats, she said.<\/p>\n
The two-day conference is co-chaired by Indonesia and
\nAustralia, and is attended by 250 delegates, including 20
\nministers from 26 countries. Representatives from 10 members of
\nthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are also
\npresent.<\/p>\n
Among prominent foreign officials attending the meeting are
\nAustralian foreign minister Alexander Downer, and U.S. Attorney-
\nGeneral John Ashcroft.<\/p>\n
The two top Bali bombing investigators, Bali Police Chief
\nIns.Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika and Graham Ashton of the
\nAustralian Federal Police will also address the conference.<\/p>\n
Pastika, who won international praise for the Bali bombing
\ninvestigation, including praise from U.S. President George W.
\nBush, said anti-terror fighters had to be willing to change their
\nstrategies as quickly as the terrorists changed tactics.<\/p>\n
"We never know, the next terrorist attack could be in the form
\nof sabotage or poisoning, so we have to diversify our thinking,"
\nPastika said, as quoted by the Associated Press.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in his speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
\nWirayuda told the conference that for the moment, the terrorists
\nwere on the run. However, the international community should not
\nlessen its alertness, he said.<\/p>\n
"While we must keep vigilant at all times, it takes only one
\nsuccessful attack by terrorists to make their day," Hassan said.<\/p>\n
At the conference, Indonesia and Australia signed an initial
\nagreement to exchange information on money laundering and the
\nfinancing of terrorism, in an addition to eight anti-terrorist
\nagreements already signed by the two countries.<\/p>\n
"Cooperation between countries to attack money-laundering
\nactivities is a significant contributor to fighting transnational
\ncrime, including terrorism," said Australian Attorney General
\nPhilip Ruddock, as quoted by Agence France-Pressee.<\/p>\n
The two neighbors said their unprecedented joint investigation
\ninto the Bali nightclub bombings of October 2002 was a model for
\nbilateral cooperation.<\/p>\n
"There's a lot of trust that's developed between the
\nAustralian and the Indonesian police through this process,"
\nDowner said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the two countries will propose the
\ncreation of an anti-terror center in Indonesia to improve
\ncoordination and training among law enforcers.<\/p>\n
Downer said that if agreed to, the center could see more
\nAustralian federal police officers based in Indonesia as a source
\nof advice and intelligence for the region.<\/p>\n
"In our region collectively we have disrupted the Jemaah
\nIslamiyah network through the capture and detention of well over
\n200 JI members, but we have not disabled it. Key operatives are
\nstill at large and JI remains highly resilient and committed to
\nits cause," the minister said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/better-intelligence-gathering-called-for-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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