RI backs neighbors crackdown on militants

RI backs neighbors crackdown on militants

Agencies, Singapore

A top Indonesian security official on Tuesday voiced support for
a crackdown on suspected terrorists by neighbors Malaysia and
Singapore.

"As I have said earlier, combating terrorism is a matter of
principle for Indonesia," Coordinating Minister for Political and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

He told a forum organized by the Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies here that the actions of the Malaysian and Singaporean
governments were part of efforts to maintain "internal security."

"We are obliged to maintain our own internal security," he
said.

Last month Singapore's Internal Security Department operatives
arrested 15 people allegedly planning to bomb the U.S. embassy
and other American facilities in the city-state.

Thirteen of them are allegedly "cell members" of a clandestine
organization called Jemaah Islamiah, with several of them
receiving training in Afghanistan with the al-Qaeda network of
terror suspect Osama bin Laden, the home affairs ministry said.

The ministry has said there are links between the group and
al-Qaeda.

Several Indonesians have been accused of leading a terrorist
cell which was allegedly plotting to blow up the U.S. Embassy and
other U.S. interests in Singapore in December.

At least 27 people in Malaysia and Singapore have been
detained for being connected to terrorist plots involving the
Indonesians.

Singapore has said the men were involved in a terrorist cell
with links to Malaysia, Indonesia and the plan to blow up the
U.S. Embassy in Singapore -- although one has been in detention
since June.

Susilo said Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore and other
members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
were increasing efforts "especially in maintaining peace and
security in this region, in combating terrorism."

The actions of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur showed "we could
cooperate in terms of international action and other forms of
regional cooperation."

Leaders of several Muslim groups in Indonesia were quoted by a
news report on Tuesday as saying the arrests in Singapore and
Malaysia were part of a U.S.-led conspiracy against Islam and
urged Jakarta against any similar moves.

Methods in dealing with suspected terrorists could differ,
Susilo said, adding Jakarta was carrying out its own security
operations "to make sure that there is no international terrorist
network in Indonesia."

Susilo, a retired four-star general, said he held discussions
with Singapore Defense Minister Tony Tan on bilateral
cooperation.

"There is a channel actually between the Singaporean
government and the Indonesian government working together to
solve our bilateral challenges," he added.

He further said no evidence had emerged to date that Osama bin
Laden's al-Qaeda network was operating in the world's most
populous Muslim nation.

"There was information of an al-Qaeda network in Indonesia in
various places and this is being investigated. So far, we have
not found concrete evidence," Yudhoyono told reporters.

"If it is there, we will take the appropriate measures in
accordance with Indonesia's commitment to combat terrorism."