U.S lauds RI's success in war on terrorism
U.S lauds RI's success in war on terrorism
Agence France-Presse, Washington, D.C
The United States praised Indonesia's "energetic" role in the U.S. anti-terror campaign since the Bali bombings last year, as Secretary of State Colin Powell met Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Washington on Friday.
"They're doing really quite well in general," said James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for Asia and Pacific affairs, as he saw the minister to his car outside the State Department after the Powell meeting.
"Their pursuit of the Bali bombers has been very energetic and quite successful."
The U.S. praise was especially significant as last year, following the Bali blast that killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists, and injured more than 300 others, Washington accused Indonesia of not previously recognizing it had a problem with terrorism.
"I think there's a fair recognition this is a serious problem, and Indonesia is doing its best to respond to it, but it's a big, diverse country," said Kelly.
Kelly also explained the U.S. reluctance to hand over a man known as Hambali, a kingpin in the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group blamed for the Bali blasts and a string of other attacks on U.S. and Western targets.
"I think the minister understood that we need to use this information first of all to make sure that no planned acts of terror occur, but also to handle law enforcement and all matters that would involve Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia," said Kelly.
"That process is going ahead in an orderly way and I think the Indonesian government understands that."
Hambali, also known as Riduan Isamuddin, was arrested along with his wife in Thailand on Aug. 11, and is being held by U.S. agents in a secret location.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that Hambali has been moved to U.S.-controlled Baghram air base in Afghanistan.
Indonesia has said it will press for the handover of Hambali, and press reports said last week that U.S. authorities had given a statement from him to Indonesian police.
Indonesian police allege Hambali was involved in 39 bombings in eight Indonesian cities between August 2000 and the Bali blasts last October.
They also want to question Hambali in connection with the Aug. 5 JW Marriott Hotel car bombing in Jakarta that killed 12 people.
The United States has agreed in principle that Indonesian officers will be allowed to question Hambali but no date has been set, police say.
He is also wanted for questioning in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.