Terrorist threat a concern in RI

JAKARTA (JP): A senior U.S. official warned on Saturday of international terrorists entering Indonesia amid the increasing flow of illegal Middle Eastern immigrants to Indonesia.

Visiting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Andrew Kelly said that regional terrorism could be logically linked to an influx of illegal immigrants to Indonesia.

The U.S. government has said that international terrorists have targeted their interests and their citizens in Indonesia.

"People from the Middle East are now here in Indonesia. It is easy for people all around the world to move around, so the U.S. have some reasons to be concerned and to alert U.S. citizens," he told a media conference.

Over 1,000 illegal immigrants, mostly from the Middle East, have been detained in various places across Indonesia. In the latest high profile incident, 460 mostly Afghan people have been stranded in the Indian Ocean on a Norwegian freighter, which rescued them after the boat they hired from Indonesia got into difficulty.

Added Kelly: "I don't think I am going to use the word imminent...It has got nothing to do with the condition in Indonesia, but it has with terrorism around the world," the official announced.

Terrorism in Indonesia came to the fore after the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta issued last month a warning to American citizens possible attacks by "extremist elements".

The U.S. government believes that there are increasing threats to their interests, including those in Indonesia who regard the United Kingdom as a secondary target.

A similar warning was also issued by the British Embassy here, a few days after the U.S. Embassy's announcement.

The Indonesian government has pledged to mobilize its intelligence force to counter terrorism.

Kelly called on a common stance to seriously address terrorist problems in the East Asian region, including Indonesia.

"There are very different kinds of threats in Asia, because in the region, without warning... major hostility could begin in a way not comparable to Europe," Kelly said in a media briefing.

"I am not saying that we should be alarmed but we are to note this as a more serious matter and require a different a sort of concern," he remarked.

The U.S. official ended his two-day visit to Jakarta on Saturday, during which he had met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz and several ministers.

"I want to repeat the invitation from President George W. Bush to President Megawati to meet him on Sept. 19... and once again to state that we support the territorial integrity, stability and peace in Indonesia," he said. (dja)