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.