Govts anticipate backlash from Muslim extremists

Govts anticipate backlash from Muslim extremists

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Within hours following the implementation of the government
regulations against terrorism, foreign countries began to issue
renewed travel warnings to their citizens underlining a possible
backlash from Muslim extremists in Indonesia after the arrest of
several prominent Muslim leaders.

Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom warned
their citizens on Saturday to be extremely cautious in public
places.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday
that he had been informed of the warnings issued by the
international community of a possible backlash in response to
Jakarta's stand against terrorism.

"They assess the travel warnings as they receive threats,"
Hassan said.

"The possible backlash from certain groups after the
government conducted a series of actions in fighting terrorism is
the basis behind the issuance of the travel warnings," he added.

Jakarta has moved to crack down on many Muslim extremist
groups following the Bali carnage, which claimed the lives of
more than 180 people last week.

Immediately after the bombing, the well-known Laskar Jihad
group was disbanded and the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) saw its
leader Habib Rizieq Shihab detained at police headquarters.

The government's latest move was to arrest Abu Bakar Ba'asyir,
the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Ba'asyir is reportedly suffering from heart and respiratory
disease and is in a hospital heavily guarded by police.

The move was immediately supported by a new regulation that
allows the police to use intelligence reports as evidence in
detaining a person.

The chairman of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim
organization in the country, Ahmad Syafi'i Ma'arif, said that he
welcomed the new regulations and hoped that the government would
use them proportionally to maintain order.

He added that he had ordered his followers to support security
in the country.

"I have been sending those words out to our members across the
country, that they should help in maintaining security," Syafi'i
said.

Reuters reported that the Australian government warned on
Saturday of a possible backlash in Indonesia following the arrest
of Baasyir.

"It is possible that there could be a backlash from those
people and that is something we have got to be very wary of,"
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said.

The British government has extended its travel warnings to
much of Southeast Asia, urging Britons to exercise "extreme
caution in public places".

"There is an increased threat to British nationals and British
interests from terrorism in Southeast Asia," The Foreign Office
said on Saturday.

Visiting Baroness Amos said here that the British government
would make the decision on whether to evacuate the embassy staff
by next week and admitted that they received additional
information, but could not discuss the nature of the threats.

Similar warnings also issued by the U.S. state department said
that: "The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta has received information that
indicates extremist elements may be planning additional attacks
targeting U.S. interests in Indonesia, particularly U.S.
government officials and facilities."