International training camp in Poso 'empty'
International training camp in Poso 'empty'
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
National Intelligence Agency chief A.M. Hendropriyono
backtracked on Thursday from comments he made one day earlier
that an international terrorist group in Poso were exacerbating
the Christian-Muslim conflict there.
Intelligence officers found an abandoned site in one of Poso's
districts that was once used as a training camp by the
international group, the retired three-star general told
reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
Hendro refused to answer when asked about the exact location
and the time of the discovery saying only that the government
confirmed its finding after members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda
group arrested last month in Spain alluded to the Poso training
camp.
"The training site was not used by Indonesians, but by
foreigners ... While, those who are involved in conflict in Poso
are Indonesians against fellow Indonesians, Muslims against
Christians," he said.
The result of the investigation in Spain into the al-Qaeda
network included reports that it had trained 3,000 multinational
troops in Indonesian camps. Indonesian Police had denied the
reports.
Hendro statements differed from other top officials including
the chief security minister who maintained that the presence of
an international terrorist group in the Central Sulawesi town had
yet to be proven.
On Wednesday Hendro said that Poso had been utilized by
members of al-Qaeda group to establish their bases and training
centers.
"I announced it because it is time to give a warning. I have
to warn the (Poso) people so that they are not used by
foreigners," Hendropriyono said
Central Sulawesi police chief Brig. Gen. Zainal Abidin Ishak
denied Thursday the involvement of al-Qaeda members in Poso,
Antara reported.
The Poso conflict which was triggered by a regent election in
1998 has continued intermittently taking more than 3,000 lives.
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and National Police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar said the government would investigate the abandoned
training site.
Some deserted facilities have been found there, Susilo said.
"But we will not conclude straight away that we have found a
terrorist camp. We will continue our investigation," he said.
However, the government will take legal action if there are
indications that terrorist training activities did occur in Poso,
he said.
"Currently we have yet to determine which organization had
used the site and for what," he said, adding that the current
warring groups in Poso were not related to the terrorist
organizations.
Plans are afoot to hold peace talks in Malino mountain resort
near Makassar for the warring parties in Poso before Christmas.