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."