Indonesia heightens vigilance against terrorist attacks

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered his top security officers to heighten their level of alert against possible terrorist attacks in Indonesia, saying that domestic terrorist cells might be planning another strike soon.

The President summoned the chief security minister Admiral (ret). A.S. Widodo and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar on Sunday night, ordering them to take every precaution against a possible terrorist attack.

Although the last terrorist attack in Indonesia happened in September last year, Indonesia would not let its guard down, he told a gathering at the Asia-Europe Editors Forum at the Dharmawangsa Hotel in Jakarta on Monday.

"We know that the terrorist cells are still active. They are still hiding, recruiting, networking, trying to find new funding sources, and even planning," he said, adding that the authorities are focusing their work on locating two Malaysians bombmakers believed to be linked to a series of bombings in Indonesia in the last three years.

The two-day forum of about 40 top editors from the two regions is organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Singapore office and The Jakarta Post.

Indonesia has experienced several deadly terrorist attacks, including the October 2002 bombing of two Bali night clubs that killed more than 200 tourists, the August 2003 attack on the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta and the car bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta in September last year.

The President did not disclose any particular intelligence sources that led to his summoning his top security officers on Sunday, but he noted that terrorist attacks had occurred in September and October in the past.

"The terrorist cells in the Southeast Asia region continue to maintain contact among themselves. We have to increase our awareness and improve our readiness," he added.

"I hope our neighboring countries will do the same," he said.

The problem of terrorism was one of several issues the President raised during his meeting with the group of editors.

"Fighting terrorism will continue to be our top priority in Indonesia. We will continue to pursue these terrorist groups wherever they may be hiding. We will continue international cooperation involving the police, intelligence and immigration. We will strengthen the hands of the religious moderates," he said.

He also underlined the government's commitment to ensure that Indonesia continued to pursue its tolerant policy in which freedom of religion is respected.

"You may read from time to time of the voice of small radical groups, but these voices will not change the fact that mainstream Indonesia will continue to be moderate, tolerant and democratic."