Philippines arrests suspected Jamaah operative

Philippines arrests suspected Jamaah operative

Reuters
Manila

An Indonesian man suspected of being a key operative of the
regional militant group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) was arrested a week
ago in the southern Philippines, a police intelligence official
said on Tuesday.

The intelligence official told Reuters that Taupik Rifqi, also
known as Amil Irza, was tracked down on Oct. 2 at a budget hotel
in Cotabato City.

"He is now undergoing tactical interrogation at a military
intelligence facility in Manila," said the official, who asked
not to be identified.

Rifqi's arrest came barely two weeks before U.S. President
George W. Bush's eight-hour visit to Manila on Oct. 18 ahead of
the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Thailand.

A combined police and military team arrested Rifqi and brought
him to the national police's Intelligence Group headquarters
before he was transferred to a more secure compound at the armed
forces' Intelligence Service.

The police source said Rifqi was believed to be among senior
operatives of JI, a group linked by several intelligence agencies
to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

JI has been blamed for some of the worst terror attacks in
Indonesia, including the bombings that killed more than 200
people on the popular resort island of Bali a year ago.

Leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations meeting in Bali this
week are discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in the war
against international terror.