Indonesia heightens vigilance against terrorist attacks<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered his top security
\nofficers to heighten their level of alert against possible
\nterrorist attacks in Indonesia, saying that domestic terrorist
\ncells might be planning another strike soon.<\/p>\n
The President summoned the chief security minister Admiral
\n(ret). A.S. Widodo and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN)
\nchief Syamsir Siregar on Sunday night, ordering them to take
\nevery precaution against a possible terrorist attack.<\/p>\n
Although the last terrorist attack in Indonesia happened in
\nSeptember last year, Indonesia would not let its guard down, he
\ntold a gathering at the Asia-Europe Editors Forum at the
\nDharmawangsa Hotel in Jakarta on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We know that the terrorist cells are still active. They are
\nstill hiding, recruiting, networking, trying to find new funding
\nsources, and even planning,\" he said, adding that the authorities
\nare focusing their work on locating two Malaysians bombmakers
\nbelieved to be linked to a series of bombings in Indonesia in the
\nlast three years.<\/p>\n
The two-day forum of about 40 top editors from the two regions
\nis organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Singapore office
\nand The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has experienced several deadly terrorist attacks,
\nincluding the October 2002 bombing of two Bali night clubs that
\nkilled more than 200 tourists, the August 2003 attack on the J.W.
\nMarriott Hotel in Jakarta and the car bomb attack outside the
\nAustralian Embassy in Jakarta in September last year.<\/p>\n
The President did not disclose any particular intelligence
\nsources that led to his summoning his top security officers on
\nSunday, but he noted that terrorist attacks had occurred in
\nSeptember and October in the past.<\/p>\n
\"The terrorist cells in the Southeast Asia region continue to
\nmaintain contact among themselves. We have to increase our
\nawareness and improve our readiness,\" he added.<\/p>\n
\"I hope our neighboring countries will do the same,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The problem of terrorism was one of several issues the
\nPresident raised during his meeting with the group of editors.<\/p>\n
\"Fighting terrorism will continue to be our top priority in
\nIndonesia. We will continue to pursue these terrorist groups
\nwherever they may be hiding. We will continue international
\ncooperation involving the police, intelligence and immigration.
\nWe will strengthen the hands of the religious moderates,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also underlined the government's commitment to ensure that
\nIndonesia continued to pursue its tolerant policy in which
\nfreedom of religion is respected.<\/p>\n
\"You may read from time to time of the voice of small radical
\ngroups, but these voices will not change the fact that mainstream
\nIndonesia will continue to be moderate, tolerant and democratic.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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