Documents detail terrorist activities in the country

The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Police have sized dozens of documents detailing terrorist activities in the country during a recent raid of a house rented by suspected terrorist Ali Ghufron alias Muklas in Surakarta, Central Java.

Some of the documents -- dubbed the Solo Documents -- describe an extensive organization with a clear chain of command among members, including the delegation of tasks in the field when the organization plans a terrorist attack, said Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang, spokesman of the Bali-based team investigating the Bali Oct. 12 bombing.

"They use their own terminology such as controller, field commander, provider of chemical substances, and several subordinates who carry out their own tasks in the field called operators," Aritonang told the press here on Wednesday.

According to Aritonang, the person who acts as controller serves as the leader and policy maker for a certain terrorist strike.

Based on the documents, Aritonang continued, Ali Gufron alias Mukhlas acted as the controller in the Bali bombing, which killed at least 190 people and injured over 300 others, mostly foreigners.

Mukhlas, who was arrested in Klaten, Central Java early this month, is also said to be operations chief of the Jamaah Islamiyah regional terrorist network.

"Subordinate to the controller is the commander, that is, Abdul Azis alias Imam Samudra, while under the commander is the provider of chemical substances as an additional member. It is believed that Amrozi held this position," Aritonang said.

Recently, East Java Police seized one ton of chemicals believed to have been bought by Amrozi from chemical shop Tidar Kimia, owned by Silvester Tendean, in Surabaya, East Java.

Police, assisted by foreign investigators, have arrested more than two dozen people in connection with two nightclub blasts on the resort island of Bali.

Aritonang further said that other terrorist suspects Dulmatin alias Amar Usman and Ali Imron, both still at large, were believed to be operators in the Bali bombing. They are believed to have placed the bombs at the site.

"Do not underestimate their capability. These books are proof of their competence and the bombs they had built are very similar to those described in those books.

"We consider them well-trained and prepared individuals," Aritonang was quoted by AFP as saying.

"Based on those documents, we believe that they (Bali suspects) are part of a wider terrorist network that exists in Indonesia," Aritonang said.

The documents included handbooks on how to make car bombs and poisons.

Aritonang said police also seized books on Jamaah Islamiyah including its "military academy" book.