U.S. hails RI antiterrorism bid<\/p>\n
Anashtasya Emmanuelle and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The United States acknowledges Indonesia's effort in
\ninvestigating al-Qaeda links in the country as part of the joint
\neffort in combating international terrorism, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nchairman Hasyim Muzadi said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
During his American visit between Feb. 4 and Feb. 8, Hasyim
\nbriefed U.S. President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress that
\nIndonesia was in the process of exchanging intelligence
\ninformation with other countries, including the U.S., in an
\neffort to uncover terrorist links in the country.<\/p>\n
\"After the explanation, the U.S. government understood that
\nIndonesia is also active in investigating possible al-Qaeda links
\nin the country,\" Hasyim said of his recent visit to the U.S.<\/p>\n
He also clarified the nature of the country's Islamic
\nmainstream, which is determined by moderate figures rather than
\nhard-liners.<\/p>\n
Hasyim said he had warned the congressmen that foreign
\nintervention concerning the matter in Indonesia would trigger
\nresentment from radical groups and would add to the
\nmultidimensional crisis the country has suffered for five years.<\/p>\n
\"Should there be part of the al-Qaeda network in Indonesia, we
\nwon't just stand still ... and it's in the process (of
\ninvestigation),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim suggested that the public avoid staging demonstrations
\nagainst the U.S. as it would only add misery to the crisis-ridden
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
The U.S. launched a war against terrorism following attacks on
\nthe country on Sept. 11 last year, blamed on Saudian businessman
\nOsama bin Laden and his organization al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim country, has been
\ncriticized for its lackluster response to the global war against
\nterrorism, while other Southeast Asian countries have made
\narrests of people with suspected links to al-Qaeda.<\/p>\n
During his U.S. visit, Hasyim met twice with former U.S.
\nambassador to Indonesia Paul Wolfowitz, who clarified media
\nreports that Washington planned to take action against Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"He (Wolfowitz) told me that the media had misunderstood his
\nstatement. He said the U.S. was giving Indonesia, which he called
\na friendly Muslim country, a chance to cope with international
\nterrorism,\" Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim maintained it was unlikely that terrorist groups would
\nbe found in Indonesia, but \"radical groups susceptible to foreign
\ninfluence\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-hails-ri-antiterrorism-bid-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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