Indonesia could be used as 'hotbed for terrorists'

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.