Int'l terrorists train in Poso
Int'l terrorists train in Poso
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta
Strife-torn Poso in Central Sulawesi had been used as a base
and training site by international terrorist groups, National
Intelligence Agency Chief A.M. Hendropriyono said on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists after meeting President Megawati
Soekarnoputri in Jakarta, Hendropriyono said the continuing
killings and destruction in Poso had been exacerbated by the
activities of the international terrorist groups and domestic
groups.
"Poso has been utilized by the international terrorist groups
to establish their bases and training centers to support
activities they plan from outside of the country," Hendropriyono
said.
Hendropriyono made the remarks on the same day the government
said that it would keep an eye on and stop the flow of outsiders
to the conflict-ridden area.
Asked whether Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network is among the
international terrorist groups, he said: "Yes, that is what it
means...it is among the groups that I mean." However, he refused
to provide further details of the indications of the network.
The retired three-star general becomes the first Indonesian
official to admit the existence of such a terrorist network in
the country, even though the United States does not include
Indonesia in the list of countries where al-Qaeda is known to
operate.
The Java-based radical Muslim group, Laskar Jihad, has
repeatedly denied that they have links with al-Qaeda, saying that
they have different Islamic sects.
Hendropriyono further said that the central government was
faced with various difficulties in controlling Poso.
"As soon as we discover the site where the two groups meet, we
will increase security activities in Poso," Hendropriyono
asserted.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Wednesday the government
would monitor the flow of outsiders to Poso.
He said the government would limit outsiders if their presence
did not bring any positive impact in securing peace there.
"So there should be no longer any reason for the presence of
the outsiders who claim to give assistance to one camp or another
because the authorities will provide all communities with
security protection," Susilo said
Poso has been hit by sectarian conflicts between Christians
and Muslims since late 1999. At least 2,000 people are believed
to have been died in the regency.
After periodical periods of calm the violence erupted again in
the regency in October when thousands of armed outsiders believed
to come from Laskar Jihad arrived in Poso.
Susilo said the outsiders will be deported home, even though
its implementation had to be based on adequate proof and thorough
legal processes.
Susilo said that to deal with the continuous sectarian
conflict in Poso and other parts of the country, the government
had formulated three main agendas -- recovering security, law
enforcement and social rehabilitation, and reconciliation.
He said that the government would accommodate proposals from
local leaders to help resolve the conflicts in troubled Poso.
He said that the central government had also designed
reconciliation steps to be led and implemented by Coordinating
Minister for the People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla in South Sulawesi
after the celebration of Idul Fitri on Dec. 16 and 17.
Jusuf Kalla was chosen to lead the reconciliation efforts as
he came from Sulawesi, loved his native land and had contacts
comprising various noted local figures, Susilo said.
Susilo said the reconciliation efforts constituted an integral
part of government attempts to solve the conflicts in Poso.
He said that the involvement of the local leaders to solve
their own conflicts in Poso was taken based on inputs he gathered
from local people during his visit to the region on Dec. 4 to 6.