Indonesia could be used as 'hotbed for terrorists'<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo AS has warned
\nthat the armed forces were taking serious precautions against the
\npossibility that Indonesia could become a \"hotbed\" for
\nterrorists.<\/p>\n
\"One issue that needs our primary attention is that our nation
\ncould be used as a hotbed for terrorists,\" Widodo told reporters
\nduring a press conference at the TNI's Headquarters in the East
\nJakarta suburb of Cilangkap on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI,\" he added, \"is determined to prevent this by
\nstepping up the development of our anti-terror forces, and by
\nmaking use of our bilateral ties with other nations to work
\ntogether on this issue.\"<\/p>\n
Widodo's statements came a day after State Intelligence Agency
\n(BIN) Chief Hendropriyono dismissed claims of the presence of
\nterrorists in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The U.S. military's chief of the Asia Pacific Command had
\nreportedly handed passed on satellite photographs to Singapore
\nand Indonesian intelligence recently which showed a training
\ncamp, allegedly linked to the al-Qaeda network, in strife-torn
\nPoso, Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The camp is allegedly led by Parlindungan Siregar, who is
\nbelieved to have ties with the al-Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah
\n(JI) group.<\/p>\n
The TNI has denied this, stating that the photographs it
\nreceived only showed an \"ordinary\" training camp for \"Muslim
\nworshipers.\"<\/p>\n
Widodo explained that the military's anti-terror forces would
\nhold joint training programs with neighboring countries, while
\nworking on an exchange of information on terrorism.<\/p>\n
He added, however, that one weak point lay within the
\nIndonesian legal system itself, owing to the fact that, until
\nnow, the TNI has lacked the authority to arrest anyone.<\/p>\n
\"We have tried to combat terrorism seriously. Of course, there
\nare many hurdles faced by the TNI -- including a lack of laws
\nthat allow us to take firm action, like arresting a suspected
\nterrorist,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Lately, Indonesia has been criticized by neighboring countries,
\nparticularly Singapore and Malaysia, for taking a soft stance on
\nterrorism and terrorists who are reportedly taking refuge in the
\narchipelago.<\/p>\n
Widodo, however, refused to comment on the alleged presence of
\nterrorist camps in the country with international links.<\/p>\n
\"We have to formulate a definition of terrorism itself, prior
\nto taking firm action,\" Widodo said.<\/p>\n
Such a definition, he added, would be an utmost priority to
\nallow the TNI to change the role played by separatist movements
\nin the country's troubled provinces -- Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam,
\nand Papua.<\/p>\n
During the press conference, Widodo was accompanied by all
\nthree chiefs of staff, and TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen.
\nDjamari Chaniago.<\/p>\n
In a separate development, Indonesian police officials have
\nreceived new information on the arrested Indonesian Fathur Rohman
\nal-Ghozi, an explosives expert with the Muslim separatist group,
\nthe Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).<\/p>\n
Fathur was recently arrested by Filipino authorities on
\nterrorism charges.<\/p>\n
In 1995, Fathur was recruited by a group \"run by a wealthy
\nMalaysian businessman named Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, while
\nattending the Lahore University in Pakistan,\" Sr. Comr. Prasetyo
\ntold reporters.<\/p>\n
Even as Prasetyo refused to elaborate more on Faiz, Singapore
\nauthorities had earlier stated that Faiz was one of 13 men
\narrested by Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD), and
\nthat JI is the group that all 13 belong to, including Faiz.<\/p>\n
Manila was shaken by five explosions on Dec. 30, 2000,
\nincluding one at a crowded train station that left 22 dead and
\nsome 100 injured.<\/p>\n
The next day, a caller to the police took responsibility for
\nthe blasts. Authorities traced the caller's cellular phone number
\nbut, at the time, did not know that it was Fathur's.<\/p>\n
Army intelligence officers, however, discovered that the
\ncaller was an Indonesian, and that he had often visited MILF
\ncamps in Mindanao, where he provided training with explosives.<\/p>\n
Fathur also reportedly built on his relationship with Muklis
\nYunos, a MILF fighter who was reported as also having trained at
\nthe same al-Qaeda camp, as Fathur did in 1993.<\/p>\n
Philippine police believe that Muklis is the head of a special
\noperations cell within the MILF, and a member of a splinter group
\nwithin the organization that favors a more aggressive war with
\nagainst the Philippine government.<\/p>",
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