Intelligence set to counter terrorism

Intelligence set to counter terrorism

JAKARTA (JP): Responding to the increasing number of terrorist
attacks in the country, Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed all
branches of the security forces to mobilize their intelligence
potential to prevent further outrages.

At a meeting on political and security affairs on Tuesday, his
spokesman I Wayan Karya said that Susilo had briefed military and
police chiefs as well as all related officials and ministers
about security priorities, including how to combat political
crimes and terrorism in order to create a more conducive
situation in the country.

"Pak Susilo said that all intelligence officers from the
National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI), and other
relevant institutions must be put on high alert as we have to
deal with such political crimes and terrorist activities," Wayan
said.

The issue of terrorism has came to the surface after the U.S.
Embassy in Jakarta warned Americans in the country on Saturday of
the possibility that "extremist elements" could launch anti-
American attacks here.

A similar warning was issued by the British Embassy here on
Tuesday. The embassy warned its citizens in the country that they
may be the targets of a "terrorist threat."

"The U.S. government believes there is a heightened terrorist
threat to U.S. interests, including in Indonesia, at the
moment ... The organizations who comprise the biggest threat to
the U.S. regard the U.K. as a secondary target," stated an
advisory posted at the embassy's website www.britain-in-
indonesia.or.id.

A reliable military intelligence source told The Jakarta Post
that the military had foiled four terrorist acts in the capital,
including planned bomb attacks on the U.S. Embassy, the American
Club, and Hotel Indonesia, all in Central Jakarta.

He further revealed that terrorists, linked to Middle Eastern
networks, were especially targeting Americans and other European
people in the country as they were the terrorists' "major enemy."

"They have no design to destroy the government. They are just
using our unstable security situation as a chance to beat their
enemy, that is the United States and other European countries, by
attacking their people and assets here," he said.

The source also implied that the terrorists had also planned
to kidnap some U.S. citizens here.

"We have also indications that these terrorists have links
with terrorists in the Middle East. But as they have specific
characteristics, especially their Arab appearances, they use
Malaysian terrorists to conduct clandestine operations here," he
said.

Speaking to reporters at Susilo's office, Jakarta Police chief
Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb confirmed that the police had arrested
four Malaysians over the recent bombing of the Santa Anna
Catholic church and the Huriah Batak Protestant (HKBP) church in
East Jakarta, and the Atrium Plaza shopping complex in Central
Jakarta.

Sofjan identified the four as Dani alias Taufik, Darwin alias
Asep, Diki alias Rusli, and Agus alias Abas.

They left Johor in May, 2000, heading to Nunukan, East
Kalimantan. Then they continued their journey to Sulawesi, from
where some of them joined the local jihad force in the Maluku
provinces, while some others traveled on to Jakarta.

"These people come from a hard-line jihad group in Malaysia
with a mission to wage war against a certain religion," Sofjan
said.

Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar was quoted by AP
as saying on Monday that the main suspect in the bombing was a
member of a 10-man group called Kumpulan Jihad, or Group for Holy
War.

Syed Hamid claimed the group had planned to continue its jihad
in Malaysia.

Separately, legislator Yasril Ananta Baharuddin of the Golkar
party said the warning issued by the U.S. and British governments
to their citizens and the capture of Malaysians allegedly being
involved in bombings here were no strong grounds for believing
that Indonesia had fallen prey to international terrorist groups.

"However, we should be vigilant over the possibility," he told
the Post.

Yasril suspected that the warning issued by the U.S. embassy
was a tactic employed by U.S. ambassador Robert S. Gelbard to
attract the world's attention as the end of his tenure drew near.

"What is the point of targeting U.S. interests in Indonesia? I
hope his successor knows Indonesia better than he does," he said.

Skepticism was also aired by Syamsu Rizal Panggabean, head of
Gadjah Mada University's Center for Security and Peace Studies.
He said he saw no grounds for terrorists to target American
citizens in Indonesia.

"In recent incidents, the targets have always been
Indonesians, not foreigners," he said. (tso/rms/swa)