Int'l terrorists train in Poso<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Strife-torn Poso in Central Sulawesi had been used as a base
\nand training site by international terrorist groups, National
\nIntelligence Agency Chief A.M. Hendropriyono said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists after meeting President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in Jakarta, Hendropriyono said the continuing
\nkillings and destruction in Poso had been exacerbated by the
\nactivities of the international terrorist groups and domestic
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
"Poso has been utilized by the international terrorist groups
\nto establish their bases and training centers to support
\nactivities they plan from outside of the country," Hendropriyono
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hendropriyono made the remarks on the same day the government
\nsaid that it would keep an eye on and stop the flow of outsiders
\nto the conflict-ridden area.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network is among the
\ninternational terrorist groups, he said: "Yes, that is what it
\nmeans...it is among the groups that I mean." However, he refused
\nto provide further details of the indications of the network.<\/p>\n
The retired three-star general becomes the first Indonesian
\nofficial to admit the existence of such a terrorist network in
\nthe country, even though the United States does not include
\nIndonesia in the list of countries where al-Qaeda is known to
\noperate.<\/p>\n
The Java-based radical Muslim group, Laskar Jihad, has
\nrepeatedly denied that they have links with al-Qaeda, saying that
\nthey have different Islamic sects.<\/p>\n
Hendropriyono further said that the central government was
\nfaced with various difficulties in controlling Poso.<\/p>\n
"As soon as we discover the site where the two groups meet, we
\nwill increase security activities in Poso," Hendropriyono
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday the government
\nwould monitor the flow of outsiders to Poso.<\/p>\n
He said the government would limit outsiders if their presence
\ndid not bring any positive impact in securing peace there.<\/p>\n
"So there should be no longer any reason for the presence of
\nthe outsiders who claim to give assistance to one camp or another
\nbecause the authorities will provide all communities with
\nsecurity protection," Susilo said<\/p>\n
Poso has been hit by sectarian conflicts between Christians
\nand Muslims since late 1999. At least 2,000 people are believed
\nto have been died in the regency.<\/p>\n
After periodical periods of calm the violence erupted again in
\nthe regency in October when thousands of armed outsiders believed
\nto come from Laskar Jihad arrived in Poso.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the outsiders will be deported home, even though
\nits implementation had to be based on adequate proof and thorough
\nlegal processes.<\/p>\n
Susilo said that to deal with the continuous sectarian
\nconflict in Poso and other parts of the country, the government
\nhad formulated three main agendas -- recovering security, law
\nenforcement and social rehabilitation, and reconciliation.<\/p>\n
He said that the government would accommodate proposals from
\nlocal leaders to help resolve the conflicts in troubled Poso.<\/p>\n
He said that the central government had also designed
\nreconciliation steps to be led and implemented by Coordinating
\nMinister for the People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla in South Sulawesi
\nafter the celebration of Idul Fitri on Dec. 16 and 17.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Kalla was chosen to lead the reconciliation efforts as
\nhe came from Sulawesi, loved his native land and had contacts
\ncomprising various noted local figures, Susilo said.<\/p>\n
Susilo said the reconciliation efforts constituted an integral
\npart of government attempts to solve the conflicts in Poso.<\/p>\n
He said that the involvement of the local leaders to solve
\ntheir own conflicts in Poso was taken based on inputs he gathered
\nfrom local people during his visit to the region on Dec. 4 to 6.<\/p>",
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