President wants terror suspects arrested soon
President wants terror suspects arrested soon
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
As evidence of his commitment to fight terrorism, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono set on Friday a 100-day deadline for the
National Police to capture the two most-wanted terror suspects,
who have been implicated in various bomb attacks in the country.
The president also ordered the police to boost security
before, during and after Idul Fitri festivities, which have
always been marked by millions of people traveling to their
hometowns.
"The president wants the police to locate (Malaysian
nationals) Noordin Mohd. Top and Dr. Azahari within 100 days,"
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told reporters after the
first Cabinet meeting, referring to the two top terror suspects
in Southeast Asia, who have been on the run and are believed to
be in West Java.
Da'i would not explain what consequences he would face if he
failed to meet the president's deadline. Reports have circulated
since Susilo's resounding victory on Sept. 20 that the new
president would seek a replacement for Da'i, who was appointed by
former president Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The 2002 police law extends the retirement age for top police
officers to 58 years old from previously 55. Da'i will turn 55 on
Jan. 25 next year.
Both Azahari and Noordin have been wanted since shortly after
the Bali bombing on Oct. 12, 2002. While on the run they also are
believed by police to have masterminded at least two more bomb
attacks; one at the JW Marriott Hotel on Aug. 5, 2003 and the
other in front of the Australian Embassy on Sept. 9, 2004, both
in Jakarta.
Police spokespersons have said they had intensified the search
for Noordin and Azahari, a British-trained engineer, following
the bombing outside the Autralian embassy that killed 10 people.
The police believe that Noordin and Azahari are key members of
the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) regional terror network, and have
continued recruiting new members to commit suicide bombings.
The police have said the two bomb experts are still in
Indonesia and were benefiting from fellow Muslims around the
country, who have been harboring them, and making it more
difficult for the police to find them.
Hours after Susilo made the order to the police chief, the
East Java police detained a man resembling Azahari and questioned
him.
"We have not yet been able to confirm if he is Dr. Azahari,"
South Surabaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alex Sampe told
reporters, but he did confirm that the police found obscene
pictures in a book belonging to the man.
The man, calling himself 39-year-old T.H., was arrested
following reports from locals who suspected he was the Malaysian
bomb expert.
More than 150 people have been arrested since the Bali
bombings and J.W. Marriott blast. Many of them have been
convicted, with Bali bombing masterminds Imam Samudra, Ali Gufron
and Amrozi handed down a death sentence.
Susilo also ordered the police chief to provide detailed
reports on the development of security before, during and after
the Idul Fitri, which will fall on Nov. 15.
Da'i said the police should focus their strategy on providing
security for distribution of fuel and basic commodities as well
the exodus of holiday travelers.
"We do not expect people to face any (security) problems
during the celebration. We will secure the routes of holiday
makers from South Sumatra to Bali," Da'i said.
More than one million vehicles are expected to be on the roads
and highways of Java during the annual celebration. The state
railway company announced recently that tickets for trips one
week before and after Idul Fitri had been sold out.