Indonesia regrets Thaksin's comments on radical groups

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government regretted on Monday Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawarta's statement accusing Indonesian radicals of helping Muslim militants in southern Thailand.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S. said, however, said Indonesia would settle the issue through diplomatic channels.

"We regret the statement," Widodo said after attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Thanksin blamed Indonesian radicals over the weekend for fomenting unrest in the kingdom's troubled south, where more than 560 people have died this year.

"They got (their) radical ideas from studying in Indonesia or from friends in Indonesia and then trained in Indonesia and Malaysia," AFP reported Thaksin's remark to a radio announcer over the weekend.

Thaksin did not provide any evidence linking Indonesian radicals with their Thai counterparts.

The statement, which has irked the Indonesia government, was part of discussions during the limited Cabinet meeting on security preparations for the coming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Widodo, who was accompanied by Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, urged Thaksin to present proof of his allegations.

He stressed there was strong cooperation between the two countries in fighting terrorism and an exchange of information should be conducted should one of the countries note such activities.

"Muslims here are very moderate," the senior minister said.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono, meanwhile, said that Indonesia would seek clarification from Thailand about Thaksin's statement.

"We can understand Thailand's worries, but such fears should not become reasons to blame Indonesia," he said. Indonesia might formally protest the statement, he said.

According to Juwono, radical groups existed not merely in Thailand and Indonesia, but also in other parts of the world. In 1980s, these militant groups set up a network called the South Eastern Islamic Community, with some of its members undergoing training in several remote places in Indonesia.

"Thailand's (statement) requires further proof through either legal evidence or intelligence data," Juwono said.

Ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said the accusation was baseless due to the absence of evidence.

"The statement by Prime Minister Thaksin, is notable for its lack of specifics and the absence of prior diplomatic approaches, is extremely difficult to comprehend or accept," he told The Jakarta Post.

Insp. Gen. (ret) Ansjaad Mbai, head of the antiterrorism desk at the office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, meanwhile, told the Post that Thailand had asked Indonesian security officers to monitor dozens of Thai students studying in Indonesia on the grounds that "they (the students) are likely to join Muslim radical groups here (in Indonesia)."

"I have disseminated the information to related institutions here, but as of today, no reports have been filed back to me," Ansjaad said.

"We should not overreact because the number of students and the names of schools they are studying will soon be obtained," he said.