Indonesia could be used as 'hotbed for terrorists'

Tiarma Siboro and Yogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo AS has warned that the armed forces were taking serious precautions against the possibility that Indonesia could become a "hotbed" for terrorists.

"One issue that needs our primary attention is that our nation could be used as a hotbed for terrorists," Widodo told reporters during a press conference at the TNI's Headquarters in the East Jakarta suburb of Cilangkap on Thursday.

"The TNI," he added, "is determined to prevent this by stepping up the development of our anti-terror forces, and by making use of our bilateral ties with other nations to work together on this issue."

Widodo's statements came a day after State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Hendropriyono dismissed claims of the presence of terrorists in Indonesia.

The U.S. military's chief of the Asia Pacific Command had reportedly handed passed on satellite photographs to Singapore and Indonesian intelligence recently which showed a training camp, allegedly linked to the al-Qaeda network, in strife-torn Poso, Central Sulawesi.

The camp is allegedly led by Parlindungan Siregar, who is believed to have ties with the al-Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group.

The TNI has denied this, stating that the photographs it received only showed an "ordinary" training camp for "Muslim worshipers."

Widodo explained that the military's anti-terror forces would hold joint training programs with neighboring countries, while working on an exchange of information on terrorism.

He added, however, that one weak point lay within the Indonesian legal system itself, owing to the fact that, until now, the TNI has lacked the authority to arrest anyone.

"We have tried to combat terrorism seriously. Of course, there are many hurdles faced by the TNI -- including a lack of laws that allow us to take firm action, like arresting a suspected terrorist," he said.

Lately, Indonesia has been criticized by neighboring countries, particularly Singapore and Malaysia, for taking a soft stance on terrorism and terrorists who are reportedly taking refuge in the archipelago.

Widodo, however, refused to comment on the alleged presence of terrorist camps in the country with international links.

"We have to formulate a definition of terrorism itself, prior to taking firm action," Widodo said.

Such a definition, he added, would be an utmost priority to allow the TNI to change the role played by separatist movements in the country's troubled provinces -- Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, and Papua.

During the press conference, Widodo was accompanied by all three chiefs of staff, and TNI chief of general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago.

In a separate development, Indonesian police officials have received new information on the arrested Indonesian Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an explosives expert with the Muslim separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Fathur was recently arrested by Filipino authorities on terrorism charges.

In 1995, Fathur was recruited by a group "run by a wealthy Malaysian businessman named Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, while attending the Lahore University in Pakistan," Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told reporters.

Even as Prasetyo refused to elaborate more on Faiz, Singapore authorities had earlier stated that Faiz was one of 13 men arrested by Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD), and that JI is the group that all 13 belong to, including Faiz.

Manila was shaken by five explosions on Dec. 30, 2000, including one at a crowded train station that left 22 dead and some 100 injured.

The next day, a caller to the police took responsibility for the blasts. Authorities traced the caller's cellular phone number but, at the time, did not know that it was Fathur's.

Army intelligence officers, however, discovered that the caller was an Indonesian, and that he had often visited MILF camps in Mindanao, where he provided training with explosives.

Fathur also reportedly built on his relationship with Muklis Yunos, a MILF fighter who was reported as also having trained at the same al-Qaeda camp, as Fathur did in 1993.

Philippine police believe that Muklis is the head of a special operations cell within the MILF, and a member of a splinter group within the organization that favors a more aggressive war with against the Philippine government.