'Indonesia not slow in war on terror'

'Indonesia not slow in war on terror'

Jerry Norton, Reuters, Jakarta

Indonesia's intelligence chief has fended off criticism that Jakarta is slacking in the "war on terror", saying it was providing crucial intelligence to other countries and expelling foreigners linked to al Qaeda.

And it would be happy to do more if it were not hampered by a lack of tough laws, insufficient support from other countries, and a weak economy, A. M. Hendropriyono said in an interview at the State Intelligence Agency's tightly guarded headquarters.

In the latest in a string of criticisms of Jakarta from other countries, U.S. envoy to Singapore Franklin Lavin called on Indonesia on Saturday to do more to pursue groups Malaysia and Singapore say directed violent militants in the two countries.

"But actually we have done a lot," Hendro said when asked about the charge.

"What we are doing now is tracking (the groups). We have so many files that can be compiled (with) very good and useful full information that we can distribute to our counterparts in Southeast Asia and all over the world."

That is what Jakarta has been doing, he said, including supplying information on radical activists from Indonesia who moved to neighboring countries and proselytized to those who became "wanted people by our friends in Malaysia".

But arresting such activists when they return to Indonesia is not so easy, he said.

"We don't have ISA (Internal Security Act) like Malaysia and Singapore so we have to be smarter in applying strategy... We can't arrest people we suspect without any evidence."

In recent months Malaysia and Singapore have used their ISAs, which allow indefinite detention of suspects without charges and trials, to jail dozens of Islamic militants alleged to be plotting terrorist attacks on U.S. and other targets.

The two countries linked those arrested to several Indonesians, including Muslim clerics Abu Bakar Ba'asyir and Hambali, both of whom lived and preached in Malaysia for years.

Ba'asyir was questioned by Indonesian police last month but not charged. Hambali's whereabouts are unknown.

In the case of Ba'asyir, Indonesia has no hard evidence he violated domestic laws nor has it been presented with a case that he was wanted by other countries, Hendro said.

But as for Hambali, "We will arrest this man as long as we know where he is even though we don't have that kind of ISA," he said.

"There is proof that he did something, and he is also a wanted man by our neighbors, by Americans... by our counterpart intelligence institutions."

He also said Indonesia had expelled two individuals linked to al Qaeda. "Once they entered the country we arrested them, we deported two," the former general said.

He declined to offer further details, saying: "You can ask Egyptian intelligence and the CIA."

Jakarta is looking for more suspects wanted by foreign countries, Hendro said, and there have been contacts made between al Qaeda and Indonesian individuals and groups.

But he disputed suggestions al Qaeda had a significant presence in Indonesia.

"According to (the) al Qaeda side the situation or the condition here in Indonesia is not matured yet... a significant amount of money given for a terrorist operation never yet happens" and evidence was lacking of al Qaeda branches or cells.

He agreed, however, with the view of other Southeast Asian countries that an organization called Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) -- which others have linked to al Qaeda -- was coordinating militant activity throughout the region, including in Indonesia.

"This organization is a regional organization. This organization's objective is to Islamisize the Southeast Asian countries, they have their goal as an... Islamic Sharia state."

He said countries quick to criticize Indonesia should instead offer more understanding.

"We have to fight against our common enemy but we can't go anywhere," he said, because the United States refused to supply spare parts for U.S.-made military transport planes. The ban relates to charges of human rights violations in the past by Indonesia's armed forces.