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.