Australia wants RI to boost war on terror

Australia wants RI to boost war on terror

Reuters, Singapore

Australia on Tuesday urged Indonesia to beef up its domestic anti-terror efforts in the wake of the arrest of dozens of suspected militants in neighboring countries.

"We wish to encourage the Indonesian government to combat these terrorist groupings within Indonesia more effectively than what they've been able to (do) to date," Defense Ministers Robert Hill told reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Aerospace 2002 conference in Singapore.

"We say that to the background of understanding all the major challenges that are facing the Indonesian government, but even putting it in that perspective, we would like to see a more effective response," he added.

"We haven't identified any specific threat to Australia but we think it would be dangerous to assume that there isn't any because we haven't put all the pieces of the jigsaw together," Hill said.

Singapore and Malaysia have arrested dozens of suspected Muslim militants using laws which allow for detention without trial. Both countries have pointed to Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic state, as home to the ring leaders.

Indonesia has been accused by officials and media in the region for not taking stronger action against alleged terror suspects in the sprawling archipelago.

Singapore's senior minister Lee Kuan Yew said, in a newspaper interview, that Singapore was still under threat of terrorism as regiional terrorist leaders were roaming around free in Indonesia.

Lee's statement irked the Indonesian government and even some Muslim leaders in the country.

Indonesia has countered criticism by saying it lacks the laws Singapore and Malaysia use to detain suspects indefinitely without charge.

Hill said Australia was still exploring "linkages between individuals" in its anti-terror investigations adding that some of those arrested in Singapore had made visits to Australia.

Hill, who stepped into his role three months ago, will head to Jakarta for the first time to meet his Indonesia counterparts from March 5 to 8.

Talks will include discussions on how Australia can lend a hand to Indonesia's anti-terror efforts either through sharing of intelligence or training, Hill said.