Singapore seeks to bring back JI members<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Singapore<\/p>\n
Singapore is taking steps to have fugitive terrorist suspects in
\nSoutheast Asia sent to the city-state for questioning, but is not
\nseeking their extradition, the home ministry said.<\/p>\n
The fugitives are believed to be members of Jemaah Islamiyah
\n(JI), a religious group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda
\nnetwork and accused of plotting to blow up U.S. and other Western
\ntargets here.<\/p>\n
Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told parliament on Tuesday
\nthey "fled Singapore" following the arrest of 13 suspected JI
\nmembers last December.<\/p>\n
"They are dispersed and are believed to be in hiding in
\nMalaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and possibly the Philippines.
\nEfforts are being made to bring them back to assist in
\ninvestigations," he said.<\/p>\n
But the minister did not mention extradition nor that
\nnegotiations were under way with Indonesia, the home ministry
\nsaid in a statement on late Thursday.<\/p>\n
Singapore has labeled an Indonesian Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar
\nBa'asyir, as the leader of the terrorist organization, but has no
\nextradition treaty with Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Replying to an MP's question on efforts being made to bring
\nback Ba'asyir and another fugitive suspect known as Hambali, Wong
\nhad replied: "We have discussed this with the Indonesians and
\nthey understood what we have on them. But Indonesian law
\napparently does not currently allow them to take action."<\/p>\n
Hambali has been described by Singapore officials as a "deeply
\nanti-American" religious teacher who influenced Islamic militants
\nin Singapore.<\/p>\n
The 13 arrested JI members are being held under Singapore's
\ntough Internal Security Act, which allows detention without
\ntrial.<\/p>\n
They are said to have confessed to "terrorism-related"
\nactivities and to trying to buy 17 tonnes of ammonium nitrate to
\nmake seven huge bombs.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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