Singapore seeks to bring back JI members

Singapore seeks to bring back JI members

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

Singapore is taking steps to have fugitive terrorist suspects in
Southeast Asia sent to the city-state for questioning, but is not
seeking their extradition, the home ministry said.

The fugitives are believed to be members of Jemaah Islamiyah
(JI), a religious group linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda
network and accused of plotting to blow up U.S. and other Western
targets here.

Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told parliament on Tuesday
they "fled Singapore" following the arrest of 13 suspected JI
members last December.

"They are dispersed and are believed to be in hiding in
Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and possibly the Philippines.
Efforts are being made to bring them back to assist in
investigations," he said.

But the minister did not mention extradition nor that
negotiations were under way with Indonesia, the home ministry
said in a statement on late Thursday.

Singapore has labeled an Indonesian Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar
Ba'asyir, as the leader of the terrorist organization, but has no
extradition treaty with Indonesia.

Replying to an MP's question on efforts being made to bring
back Ba'asyir and another fugitive suspect known as Hambali, Wong
had replied: "We have discussed this with the Indonesians and
they understood what we have on them. But Indonesian law
apparently does not currently allow them to take action."

Hambali has been described by Singapore officials as a "deeply
anti-American" religious teacher who influenced Islamic militants
in Singapore.

The 13 arrested JI members are being held under Singapore's
tough Internal Security Act, which allows detention without
trial.

They are said to have confessed to "terrorism-related"
activities and to trying to buy 17 tonnes of ammonium nitrate to
make seven huge bombs.