Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz confirmed that one of
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz confirmed that one of the most wanted suspect terrorist Hambali alias Riduan Isamudin, who was caught in Thailand recently, has been undergoing intensive investigation done by the U.S law enforcement authority.
Hambali is believed to mastermind a number of terrorist actions and bombings in Bali and other parts of Indonesia. Hambali was found hiding and moving somewhere in several Southeast Asian countries until he was captured by the US and Thai authorities and was brought the United States for further investigation. Hambali is also believed to be a key figure who can disclose terrorist network in the region.
In a special interview with Indonesian Journalists including The Jakarta Post a day before the 2nd commemoration of World Trade Center Tragedy in his Pentagon office in Washington, Wolfowitz again made it clear that investigation on Hambali is being conducted by professionals who have a lot of worldwide experience in dealing with this issue.
"I know they are good in communication with Indonesian law enforcement authority. They certainly want to get help and information from Indonesia," he pointed out.
He believed that people who are now investigating Hambali understand the desire of a country to have access to its citizen who is involved in this kind of things.
Wolfowitz is the first high-ranking US official to give comment on Hambali.
He commented there are many possibilities about Hambali being brought to Indonesia. But he said that in every step that is being taken, one has to ask question whether they have done anything they can and take advantage of what this man knows to prevent further terrorist act.
"We had in our system with people that we detain in Guantanamo (Cuba) one of our consideration obviously that we want to bring them to justice to get trial but the first requirement is to try to make sure that we get as much information as they know to prevent any terrorist actions."
In case of Hambali, the focus , he said, is trying to make sure that we get as much information as possible to breakup terrorist network. "And it is a process that is working well," he added.
The cooperation between between the United States and Indonesia since the Bali bombing has been extended. And Indonesia has been doing effectively in dealing with the issue.
"And it was unfortunate case that we did not take care of think terrorism as serious matter before the 9/11. The 9/11 was the wake-up call to the United States, and I guessed that the Bali bombing is a wake-up call to the Indonesian government and the Indonesian people," he said.
Indonesia has been doing tremendously, very professional investigation,
In particular, Wolfowitz said that in dealing with the Bali bombing, Gen. Made Mangku Pastika has been doing his job professionally. But more broadly, there is extensive cooperation between the U.S. and Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries to disclose terrorism activities in the region.
"We haven't stopped them obviously, but we are winning, they are loosing," he commented.
In regard to military involvement and assistance in counterterrorism actions, he said that as speaking ear of the US. Defense Department, Wolfowitz said we would like to strengthening our relationship with the Indonesian military on the basis that the Indonesian military to pursuing the kind of reform agenda.