TERRORIST ATTACKS YET TO AFFECT TOURISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 17 (Antara) - The attack incidents by terrorists in Indonesia in recent days have yet to affect the tourism industry in the country.          According to Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, no foreign tourists has cancelled plan to visit Bali, the country's most popular tourist resort province.          A series of suicide bomb attacks on certain targets has taken place at three churches in Surabaya, on Sunday (May 13) followed by another suicide attack on the regional police headquarters in the East Java provincial capital on Monday.          The Surabaya suicide bombings left 22 people dead, including 10 terrorists. On Wednesday, May 16, another terrorist attack happened at Riau Police Headquarters. Four terrorists were shot dead, however.         Will these terror acts affect Indonesian tourism? Tourism analyst Chusmeru of Puwokerto's University of Jenderal Soedirman, said that the tourism sector is a service industry which is very sensitive to security disturbance.         "The tragedy of bomb terror, for example, could have an impact on the tourism sector in the country, given the service industry is sensitive to security issues," he said in Purwokerto on Wednesday.

RI'S ECONOMY RELATIVELY NOT AFFECTED BY BOMB ATTACKS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 15 (Antara) - The successive two day bomb attacks that left 22 people dead, including 10 suicide bombers in Surabaya on Sunday and Monday did not significantly affect the Indonesian economy.          According to Rino Donosepoetro, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Indonesia, the suicide bomb attacks in Surabaya would not seriously affect Indonesia's economic growth. "The bomb attack is verily deplorable. I am convinced the people in Indonesia are already mature and the incident will not seriously affect Indonesia's economy which we have predicted that it will increase," Donosepoetro said on Monday.          He is of the view that the suicide bombings would not cause a setback in the Indonesian economy, expressing his optimism that the Indonesian economic fundamental is very strong.          On Sunday and Monday (May 13-14), East Java was rocked by suicide bomb attacks, killing 22 people, including 10 attackers.  The bomb attacks took place at three churches on Sunday morning and at the Surabaya Police Headquarters on Monday.

VARIOUS QUARTERS CONDEMN BOMB ATTACKS ON CHURCHES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 13 (Antara) - The terror attacks on three churches that left 13 people dead and 43 others wounded in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday were strongly condemned by various quarters.            President Joko Widodo condemned the church attacks and called on the public to remain calm. He desribed the acts of terror as barbarious. "All citizens should remain calm and vigilant,"  he told a press conference at Dr. Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya after visiting survivors of the terror attacks.         "The acts of terror is really barbaric and beyond humanity. It causes the fall of victims from members of community and innocent children," said the President.          Chairman of the Indonesian largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)  Said Aqil Siradj also condemned the suicide bombing of the three churches. "We condemn all acts of terrorism, whatever the motive and background," he said.           He said all sorts of acts using violence, let alone in the name of religion by spreading terror, hatred and violence, are not  Islamic teachings. "Islam condemns all forms of violence, and there is not even a single religion in the world that justifies violence," he said.

RI TO SHARE EXPERIENCE IN FIGHTING TERRORISM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 28 (Antara) - Terrorism and radicalism are increasingly considered to be posing threats to the world peace and security, forcing many nations to join forces in the fight against them.          The current security crisis in Marawi City of the Philippines showcases how radicalism has threatened security in Southeast Asia. It has driven Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to enhance cooperation to address it. Hence, the problem will also be discussed in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which will be held from August 4 to 8.         Indonesia, which is known to be relatively successful in fighting terrorism, will share its experience in the ARF. This weekend, it will, therefore, host the conference of Sub Regional Meeting on Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Cross Border Terrorism (SRM FTF-CBT) in Manado, North Sulawesi.         Strategies and concepts on the effective fight against terrorism and radicalism will be formulated during the Manado conference, the results of which will be taken to the ARF.         Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto stated that Indonesia is recognized as a country which could take effective steps in the fight against terrorism.

BOMB BLASTS PROMPT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE REVISION OF ANTITERRORISM LAW

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 27 (Antara) - The law governing crimes and violence allows security officers to take actions after there are proofs of criminal deeds. This can be a loophole for perpetrators, particularly terrorists, to commit crimes.          The legal enforcers can only punish executors who have already committed the crimes such as physical attacks on certain objects but have not yet been able to prevent their acts. It is handled only after terror incidents have occurred.           Many bomb attacks have occurred because of a loophole. The most recent one is the suicide bomb attacks in Kampung Melyu area in East Jakarta which killed three police personnel and two suicide perpetrators and injured dozens of others last Wednesday evening.           The incidents promoted many groups to call for the immediate completion of the revision of the antiterrorism law in order to provide a legal basis for law enforcers to take actions if they detect signs of crimes. What is more important is to prepare a comprehensive, planned, and preventive policy.           The National Awakening Party (PKB) has urged the revision of Law No. 15 of 2003 on Antiterrorism at the earliest, so that efforts to prevent terror attacks will have a legal basis.

POLICE TO CONTINUE CRACKING DOWN ON TERRORIST CELLS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 22 (Antara) - Indonesian police have been successful in thwarting terrorists' plans to bomb a number of targets during Christmas and New Year festivities.         Since December 10, the National Police's anti-terrorist squad Densus 88 has uncovered various plans to launch bomb attacks. Police shot dead three terror suspects, arresting at least 17 others in a number of regions.         "Densus 88 members thwarted plans hatched by three different groups to carry out planned acts of terror. I praise them because terror poses a threat to us all," Indonesian Police chief General Tito Karnavian said in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday.          Anti-terror police arrested one terror suspect identified as Adam in and killed three others in South Tangerang (Tangsel) District, Banten Province, on Wednesday morning.          The police attempted to arrest Adam's friends at Curug Village in Tangsel, but they resisted and were shot dead in the ensuing struggle.          The deceased suspects were identified as Omen, Helmi and Irwan. During the initial interrogation, Adam admitted they had planned a suicide bomb attack at a police station near the BSD Eka Hospital in Tangsel.

RI CONCERNED OVER ISIS PLAN FOR BASE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 14 (Antara) - Indonesian lawmakers, intelligence analysts and government have expressed concern over the alleged plan of ISIS to develop a base in Southeast Asia by creating a new caliphate in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.          The bomb blasts that killed eight people, including two terrorists, at Sarinah, Jalan Thamrin, Central Jakarta, last January, are linked to the ISIS movement. The latest ISIS-linked incident is the arrests on Saturday and Sunday of suspected terrorists who planned to detonate explosives at the State Palace.          The incidents are indications of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS') plan to build a base and create a caliphate in the region, according to Lawmaker Bambang Soesatyo.         Even Indonesian security authorities and the people should be alert about the infiltration by ISIS of mass organizations in the country, according to legislator Charles Honoris.         "I would not name the organization, but they have openly expressed support for the ISIS," Charles Honoris, a member of the Commission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) said here Friday.

ANTITERRORISM LAW REVISION MUST BE FINALIZED SOON

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 27 (Antara) - The draft revision of Law No. 15/2003 on Antiterrorism, which is under the deliberation of the House of Representatives (DPR), must be finalized soon.         Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Minister Wiranto called for the draft revision of Law No. 15/2003 to be finalized soon, as it constitutes a legal weapon for security officers in the fight against terrorism.        "If we do not have the weapon, which is the legal umbrella to fight terrorists, it means that we are fighting them with hands being tied," Wiranto said at his office in Jakarta recently.         The deliberation of the bill, which was submitted by the government to the House last January, has been slow as it is still in the stage of collecting inputs from the public. It was initially planned to be completed by June 2016. But, it is still in the stage of collecting public inputs for inclusion in the problem inventory list (DIM).         Inputs and suggestions are expected to come from the civil society, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the public in general.

TINOMBALA TEAM RESOLVED TO ELIMINATE SANTOSO TERRORIST CELLS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 24 (Antara) - Although fugitive  Santoso, the leader of the armed terrorist  group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, was killed in a gunfight with security officers recently, the Tinomabala Task Force will continue operations to eliminate the group's cells.          The Tinombala operation, involving a special team of three thousand military and police personnel, was started in January 2016 in line with President Joko Widodo's directive to wipe out the Santoso group, which had made Poso a terror hotbed for years.          In a gunfight between the Tinombala Task Force and the armed terrorist group in Poso on July 18, the team members successfully shot dead two fugitives, one of them was the leader Santoso alias Abu Wardah. The other one was fugitive Mochtar.          However,  the task force will not cease its operations until after it eliminates the group's cells. It is believed that the group still has 19 members hiding in Poso.          Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) General Gatot Nurmantyo said in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Wednesday (July 20) that he and the National Police (Polri) General Tito Karnavian will continue the Tinombala operation and reinforce the task force, despite the fact that the terrorist leader had been crippled.

SANTOSO'S DEATH WILL HELP EXPEDITE DEVELOPMENT

 By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 19 (Antara) - The gunfight between the Tinombala Task Force and the armed terrorist group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday afternoon ended in the death of suspected leader of the group, Santoso alias Abu Wardah.          Deputy Regional Police Chief of Central Sulawesi, Senior Commissioner Leo Bona Lubis, stated on Tuesday that the police has confirmed that one of the two radicals shot dead by the police-military joint task force was Santoso alias Abu Wardah, the leader of Poso's armed terror group in Central Sulawesi.          "Based on physical examination, the body is of Santoso. We are now awaiting the result of the DNA test," he remarked at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday.          Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo hoped that Poso would soon recover and stability will return after the armed terrorist group was crushed by the Tinombala Operation Task Force on Monday evening.          "Following Santoso's reported death, Central Sulawesi, particularly Poso, would soon attain stability and witness accelerated development," Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said.          The success of the military-police joint team in decimating the terror group was lauded by many sides, including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and legislators.

NO MAJOR IMPACT OF JAKARTA BOMBINGS ON INDUSTRY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 16 (Antara) - The terror attack in the business and office district in Central Jakarta on Thursday will not have any significant impact on the national industry.         "The bombing and shootout at the Sarinah Department Store and Starbucks coffee shop in Thamrin Boulevard will not significantly affect the development of industry at the national level. We regret the incident but hopefully it will not affect the national industry," Industry Minister Saleh Husin said on Friday.          However, he admitted that the bombings and shootouts would disturb trade circles to some extent but that would only be temporary in nature.          The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Jakarta Office (Kadin Jakarta) also admitted that it impacted business and economic activities in Jakarta, but did not have any widespread impact on economic activities at the national level.          "Psychologically, the terror attacks disturbed the market as reflected in the weakening of the rupiah's exchange rate against the US dollar. It almost reached Rp14,000 per US dollar," Kadin Jakarta Deputy Chairman Sarman Simanjorang said in a press statement on Friday.

JAKARTA BOMB ATTACK CONDEMNED WIDELY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 14 (Antara) - The Jakarta bomb attacks by armed militants believed to be members of a group linked to ISIS, which killed seven on Thursday, have been widely condemned at home and abroad.          A series of attacks left four attackers and four civilians--including a foreigner--dead. The first and second explosions occurred at a police station and at the Starbucks coffee shop at around 10:40 a.m. local time in Jalan Thamrin where the Indonesian capital's main office district and business center  are located.          Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr Comr Mohammad Iqbal confirmed later that there were 17 victims. four terrorists and four civilians were killed; three policemen were injured in a shootout in front of the coffee shop and two others were injured by bomb shrapnel; five civilians sustained serious injuries.          "Two terrorists carried out the suicide attacks (one on a police station and another one inside the Starbucks Coffee shop)  and two were shot dead during efforts to arrest them," M. Iqbal said.          President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), House Speaker  Ade Komaruddin, the Chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Zulkifli Hasan, the United States and Australia immediately expressed condemnation of the barbaric attacks.          "I have ordered the National Police Chief and the Security Minister to hunt down and arrest the perpetrators," President Jokowi who was on a working visit to Cirebon, West Java, said.

MULTIPLE APPROACHES NEEDED TO FIGHT RADICALISM

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 11 (Antara) -- Radicalism in Indonesia cannot be handled with security measures and by blocking radical websites alone but requires multiple approaches.          These include instilling a spirit of anti-radicalism in youths and implementing balanced tactics by taking multiple aspects into account.          Early childhood education is a branch of education that can help to prevent the spread of radicalism. "Through early childhood education, they can learn about tolerance. It (the ideology) should be implanted in them from an early age," Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa stated here on Saturday.          "From an early age, they can develop an understanding of cultural diversity and pluralism, and through these efforts, tolerance and moderation can be ingrained in them," the minister affirmed.          A survey revealed that one out of 14 lower and upper secondary school students favored the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).          "If such conditions develop, efforts to prevent the spread of radicalism will become more difficult. However, we can prevent such thinking by instilling multiculturalism and pluralism in youths from an early age. Through this step, we can prevent radicalism from spreading and instill tolerance and moderation in youths from an early age," the minister explained.

POLICE TO LAUNCH OPERATIONS IN WAKE OF MYSTERIOUS SHOOTINGS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 14 (Antara) - The National Police will soon crack down on illegal possession of firearms, following the recent shooting attacks on police personnel and other targets, seen by security agencies as attempts to spread terror.          "While conducting raids, our focus will be fire arms," National Police Deputy Chief Com. Gen Oegroseno said on Tuesday.          He said the main objective of the raids would be to identify and arrest the perpetrators of the series of mysterious shooting attacks on police officers over the past weeks.          The police will crack down on illegal arms possession as part of efforts to prevent shooting incidents involving unidentified gunmen from happening in the future.          The latest in the series of such attacks was the one on a police officer's residence in Banjar Wijaya, a housing complex in Tangerang, Banten province, by an unidentified person on Tuesday morning.

PEOPLE REJECT CERTIFICATION OF PREACHERS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - Different segments of society have voiced their opposition to the idea of certifying religious preachers, allegedly proposed by the National Agency for Terrorism Handling (BNPT), in order to reduce radicalism in the country.          Even though BNPT head Ansyaad Mbai has denied that his agency made such a proposal, the discourse on and rejection of the need for ulemas (Muslim Scholars) to be certified continues to trigger debates.          Ansyaad Mbai said his agency had never conducted research on the need for preachers to possess certification before they could deliver sermons.          Yet recent media reports carried stories that the agency had raised the idea on the need for ulemas to be certified to prevent the spread of radicalism.         The discourse came up following a number of terror-related incidents in the country, such as an explosion in Depok, West Java, the confiscation of explosive materials in Jakarta, and a series of  shootings of terror suspects in Solo, Central Java, in recent days.         "This is misquoted. This is wrong (the reports). What is right is that he (Irfan Idris, the director for responding to radicalism for BNPT) was explaining at a seminar about the example of Singapore, where ulemas are certified. We are not proposing a certification. So please correct this mistake," Ansyaad was quoted as saying on Monday by Bisnis Indonesia's online website.          Yet, the issue has become a matter of public discourse this week.          Sociologist Nia Elovina of the National University said it was normal for the Ministry of Religious Affairs to propose a policy for certifying ulamas.          "If university lecturers and school teachers can be certified, why can¿t Muslim scholars be certified to guarantee their credibility?" she asked.          She said that in recent days there were many cases of conflicts which involved religious adherents. "I think, to overcome these conditions, certification of preachers is needed," she said.          The idea, however, was rejected by different quarters, such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU/the country's largest Muslim organization), legislators, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), preachers association and others.          "The government should not go that far," stressed General Chairman of NU Executive Board, Said Aqil Siro. He said the name ulama was a kind of title given by Muslim community to preachers as a token of recognition of their religious knowledge. It was not a title given by the government.          So it is not appropriate, according to Said, for the government to provide the title through a certification program.  "The title kiai (Muslim scholars), utadz (religious teachers) or ulama are titles given by the people, not by the government," noted Said, who holds a doctorate degree from the Ummul Qura University of Mecca.          He added that if the government had yet to be successful in reducing radicalism, it was not due to the small role preachers had so far played.          The Ulama Council (MUI) for West Java also rejected the idea, saying that the proposal for certification is unreasonable.         "I think this is inconsequential. After all, it concerns the credibility of ulamas," West Java MUI chairman Hafidz Utsman said.       He also noted that efforts to overcome terrorism would overlap if ulemas were certified.  "If ulemas are certified, it would cause overlapping as to who should do that. It is not clear with what agencies coordination should be made," he said.          The West Sumatra chapter MUI believes that a plan to implement a certification program of ulemas to counter terrorism would not be effective.  "Terrorists are members of exclusive groups and would never expose their ideas to the public", said Gusrizal Gazahar of the West Sumatra MUI.         He added that terrorists would only pass on their ideas to their recruits, making it difficult to isolate and identify radicals.  "Therefore, it would not be easy to select those who need to be certified and need to be prevented from spreading radical ideas. If the ulema certification program is, indeed, carried out, there should be clear indicators for its implementation to avoid problems in the future", he stated     According to Secretary General of the Indonesia Preachers Association (Ikadi) Idris Abdul Shomad, certification should not be related to terrorism issues. "It would be a humiliation for ulamas if preachers should be certified due to cases of terrorism," noted Idris Abdul Shomad.          It would become a slanderous thing if preachers are certified due to terrorism issues or due to the desire of the government to reduce radicalism. It will leave the impression that preachers are the instigators of terrorism.          Ulamas and terrorists have no relations, he said. "So, one should not relate ulamas to terrorism," Idris stressed.          The same rejection also comes from a legislator. "I reject and criticize the idea of certifying ulamas," Indra, a member of the Justice Party Faction of the House of Representatives (DPR) said.          He added that any titles such as "kiai," "ustadz," and "buya," (senior religious leader) are given by the public as a token of recognition of ulemas' rich religious knowledge. "The titles are given by the public, not by the government, based on their religious knowledge," he said.          He said that the idea to certify ulamas was an effort to control or restrict religious sermons and constitutes an action by an authoritarian government. "If applied, it would be a return to the authoritarian order in the past," the legislator warned.          Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) La Ode Ida added that the idea to certify ulamas as part of an effort to reduce radicalism could not be put into practice.         "Ulamas should not be certified. The definition of ulama is a person who has deep knowledge (about Islam). Thus, all who have much knowledge (about Islamd) are ulamas. So, the degree of the Islamic knowledge of a person cannot be measured," La Ode Ida said on Wednesday.           He also said that recognition of knowledge about religions could not be taken over by the state. "Ulama is ulama. So, let the ulama title be recognized independently and it should not receive confirmation from the state," he noted.         He added that terrorism occurs due to injustice and poverty. Terrorists are not satisfied with the government, but they do not have any power to voice their opinions about certain government policies, he said.          "Terrorism could happen if there is injustice. But they do not have any power to channel their aspirations," La Ode Ida said.***3*** (T.A014/INE/a014/KR-BSR/A/A014) 15-09-2012 17:20

RADICALISM IS NOW THRIVING?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 26 (ANTARA) - Fears of growing religious radicalism are once again coming up to the surface in recent days following a suicide-bomb explosion in Cirebon and several parcel bomb cases in Jakarta.          While security officers have arrested and are questioning at least 20 suspects, religious figures expressed concerns that religious radicalism had reached an alarming level. Unfavorable social and economic conditions gave a chance to radical groups or hardliners to exert influence and instill doctrines to younger generations.          Din Syamsuddin, general chairman of the Indonesian second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, said that radical teaching has developed among younger generations not only because of wrong perception on religion but also of  external religious factors such as social, economic and political factors.          Din Syamsuddin's opinion was shared by DR Musni Umar, a sociologist of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN). He said that many graduates of religious institutions failed to find jobs at institutions other then the Ministry of Religious Affairs.          This social economic condition gives a chance to radical groups to embrace them. "So far, no one has provided guidance, developed and used them so that radical groups have a chance to instill their jihad and radical doctrines," Musni Umar said.          Sociologist Arie Sujito of the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta said meanwhile that students and younger generations could be trapped into radical movements as a result of their asocial attitude whereby their rationality and critical awareness did not work.          "Younger generations became the target of radical groups because they are considered to be in the process and phase of finding and forming identities where militant doctrine and attitude could easily be instilled," Arie said.          The dysfunctions of rational thoughts and critical awareness in the mind of younger generations caused the doctrines which negate realities could be implanted easily, including sectarian doctrines.          This could be worsened if students became isolated from critical social community in their campus. "They became asocial and tended to be trapped in the hedonistic circle outside the habitat of productive students," he said.          These conditions provide a chance for hardliners to recruit terror cadres, who sowed threats of terror in various corners of the country. The increase in the number of bomb terrors and hardliners of late creates fears and concern among the public.          "It is not only threatening public security but also Islam and the state," Hasyim Muzadi, the former chief of one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said.          The noted Islamic figure voiced concern over the fact that radicalism in certain religious movements had now reached a dangerous level requiring serious handling by the government.          He said de-radicalization efforts were urgently needed and must be seriously carried out while the victims of indoctrination by radical movements had to be rehabilitated. A curriculum for the rehabilitation and training programs had to be made ready especially the one that teaches on state-religion relationship and Pancasila as well as therapy programs for the brainwashing victims.          "Priority must be given to victims of radical doctrines while the campaigners and designers must first be legally processed," he said. If the program is proven successful it could then be implemented in other Islamic boarding schools.          According to Dr Musni Umar, the Ministry of Religious Affairs must serve as the front guard in offsetting religious radicalism. "The ministry of religious affairs should serve as a team leader in the front guard to develop the people's horizons, tolerance and peace loving attitude,"  he said  on Tuesday.          He said that the ministry of religious affairs which controlled networks up to the subdistrict level throughout the country could offset rising radicalism through religious campaigns. In order to carry out such a function the ministry of religious affairs must be equipped with a regulation so that it could perform two jobs, namely  as an agent to serve the government and as an agent to provide enlightenment to the people.          "If the ministry of religious affairs carries out these two functions plus an integrated effort with the relevant institutions to empower the people's social economy, radicalism would hopefully be overcome," he said.          No matter what means will be used, Hasyim Muzadi called on the government to carry out comprehensive handling of radicalism. "The government should not only deal with its political interest enemies but also with the enemies of the state," he said.          More importantly, any seeds of terror should be fought and rooted out, such as  the NII (Indonesia Islamic State) Movement.          According to Din Syamsuddin, the government should solve the problem of the NII   so that it would not thrive and harm the state interest. "Virtually, the NII Movement is an old movement but the government since its presence did not settle it completely," he said.          He said that the NII Movement which has affected younger generations should awaken the government on the need to eliminate it or liquidate it. "After all, Islamic organizations in Indonesia felt themselves that they had to do something to protect Muslims from being influenced with its teaching," the Muhammadiyah chairman said.         "Even, they will use religion as a means of justification. Therefore, the way out  the government should use is to fight  its main roots," he said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:05/a014)26-04-2011 21:09

INDONESIAN POLICE CONTINUING CRACK-DOWNS ON TERRORISTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 15 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian police's Densus-88 anti-terror unit has over the past two weeks killed five terror suspects and arrested at least 16 others in  crackdowns on newly discovered  terror networks in the country.          Police said evidence confiscated during the arrests and the shooting to death of terror suspects indicated that they had planned to attack state and foreign dignitaries at the coming Independence Day celebration next August.          Although notorious top Southeast Asian terrorist leaders Dr Azhari and Noerdin M Top have been eliminated , terrorist cells  continue to develop in Indonesia with a target to turn Aceh province as their base in Southeast Asia.          Early last March, the anti terror unit was successful in disclosing the terrorist target to make Aceh as a base in Southeast Asia after they arrested 19 terror suspects in Aceh, West Java and Jakarta early last March.          The arrests led to the disclosure of the hideouts of Dulmatin, a highly-wanted suspected terrorist in terror movements in Java, Ambon, Poso and in the Philippines. Dulmatin and two accomplices were shot dead in separate raids in Pamulang, South Tengerang near Jakarta.          Not more than two months after Dulmantin's raid, anti-terror police were again seized hideouts of terror suspects killing five and arresting at least 16 others over the past two weeks.          On Friday last week, National Police spokesman Inspector General Edward Aritonang said anti-terror police unit had arrested 12 people suspected to be members of a terrorist network holding military-like training in Aceh recently.          "Yes, it's true that arrests have been made in three locations on 12 alleged terrorists," he said. Densus 88 anti-terror unit arrested three of them in Setu, Bekasi, West Java, seven in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, and one in a hotel in Menteng, Central Jakarta and another one in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.           Five days later, police shot dead five suspected terrorists in shootouts in Cililitan, East Jakarta, and Cikampek, West Java. One terrorist suspect was arrested in the shootouts.           Edward Aritonang said in Cililitan, police shot dead three terror suspects. One of them was identified as Maulana while the other two still could not be identified. Maulana who was armed with a revolver was shot dead as he resisted arrest.          "Maulana's two accomplices were dead on their way to the hospital," he said. Maulana had been named a fugitive since his alleged involvement in the terrorist activity in Jantho, Aceh Besar district, in February 2010.          On the same day, police also shot dead two terror suspects and arrested another in the West Java town of Cikampek. One of the slain terrorist suspects was identified as Saptono. He also had been put in the wanted list for his alleged part in the terrorist activity in Jantho, Aritonang said.          Saptono was the younger brother of Jaja, one of terror suspects shot dead in front of Lampeung police precinct in Aceh Besar, sometime earlier, he said.         "Saptono was good at using firearms and knew much about ammunition," he said.         The next day, following the shooting to death of Saptono, police made other arrests in Central Java. Three people were arrested  in Solo, Central Java, on May 13, for alleged involvement in terrorism. They are linked to terrorism training activities unveiled in Aceh last February.          "One of them is believed to play a role as a training planner," National Police deputy spokesman Brigadier General Zaenuri Lubis said. The people did not defy the arrest and so no fire had been opened like in the arrest of six alleged terrorists in Cawang, East Jakarta, and Cikampek, West Java on Wednesday, May 12, 2010.          "The arrests in Solo and Sukoharjo were the continuation of arrests made in Cawang and Cikampek," he said.          From them in Solo the police confiscated some weapons and hundred rounds of ammunition. "They were taken to Jakarta that day for investigation," he said.          Documents confiscated from terror suspects indicated that they had planned to attack the Independence Day ceremony next August 17.          Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, Danuri said the police learned about their plan from documents confiscated from terror suspects arrested in Bekasi, West Java, and in Sukoharjo, Central Java, on Wednesday and Thursday.          "They planned to attack all officials attending the ceremony. All the state officials at the event would be killed, including state guests," he said.          For the purpose, the terror group had assigned a suspect named Suhardi alias Usman to take 21 firearms including a grenade launcher. After the attack was successfully carried out and all state officials were killed, they would replace the country's democratic system with a system of their choice.          Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto who also attended the press conference meanwhile said what the national police chief had disclosed was not fabricated but based on the results of research, study and interrogation of suspects.          In the meantime, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono praised the police performance in the fight against terrorism marked by the arrests of members of terrorist networks in the past two days.          President Yudhoyono viewed the police performance had been good but hoped for constant alertness. "What the police have done is good and deserves appreciation. However the process does not stop here. In the future the police must increase their alertness. Particularly the President said the state must not lose or must not be off guard against terrorism actions," Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha, said.      (T.A014/A/HAJM/14:20/f001)15-05-2010 14:24:5

TERRORISTS KILLED AHEAD OF OBAMA'S VISIT

 By Andi Abdussalam

 

           Jakarta, March 9 (ANTARA) - In the runup to United States President Barack Obama's visit, the Indonesian police have since last week arrested at least 19 suspected terrorists and killed six others, one of whom is believed to be Dulmatin, a highly-wanted  terror suspect.

         The Densus-88 anti-terror police  located and raided a number of terror hideouts in West Java and Jakarta, as well as in Aceh in the western tip of Sumatra, which according to Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, will be used by terrorists as their base in Southeast Asia.

         According to National Police Headquarters Spokesman Inspector General Edward Aritonang, anti-terror police in a number of raids have since last week arrested 14 terror suspects and shot dead three others in Aceh province. They have also arrested four in West Java and  one in Jakarta.

        The most recent case was on Tuesday when the Densus-88 anti-terror unit raided two places in Pamulang subdistrict, South Tangerang city in the province of Banten, near Jakarta.

         On Tuesday, the Densus-88 anti-terror police located  and shot dead three terror suspects in two separate places in South Tangerang. One of the dead victims was believed to be Dulmatin.

         Dulmatin is suspected of involvement in terror movements in Java, Ambon and Poso. One of the men convicted in the 2002 Bali bombing had said Dulmatin made the ingition  devices of  bombs. He is also believed to be responsible for church bombings in Jakarta on Christmas Eve in 2000, and may have helped make the bombs used in an attack on Jakarta's JW Marriott hotel in 2004.

         Head of the National Police headquarters' information division,  Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang, said that in Pamulang, police raided two places. The first raid was conducted at 11.30 am on an Internet outlet at the Puri Pamulang shophouse complex on Jalan Siliwangi No.6 in Pamulang, in South Tangerang city.

         "The suspect with his initial YI alias M was shot dead after he opened fire at police," Aritonang said. YI alias M was believed to be Dulmatin but police were cautious to produce his identity before a complete identification process was conducted.

          At the scene, police also took into custody a woman with three children because they were at the location during the raid, Aritonang said.

          Besides shooting dead one terror suspect on Jalan Siliwangi, the police at 12.20 am also shot dead two other terror suspects at Jalan Setiabudi No.15, also in Pamulang, South Tangerang city or about several kilometers from the first raid scene.

           Aritonang said  the two dead terror suspects , one of whom was a woman, in Jalan Setiabudi were identified as R and H, while  two others known by their initials as BR alias AH and SB alias I were arrested.

          On the previous day, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the police arrested two suspected terrorist fire arms suppliers from Aceh Besar district,  Aceh.  "The two arms dealers were caught in West Java and Jakarta," he said on Monday.

         Danuri said the police already got the identities of those who got away. The police have changed their ways and methods of catching terror suspects after three police officers were killed and ten others injured during raids.

         When they were raided last week, the suspected terrorists were able to shoot death three policemen.

         The two suspects who had been caught, brought the number of suspects already arrested to 19, including the three who were shot dead, while the 14 suspects who were caught last week were held at the Salemba jail, and at the Kelapa Dua dtention center, Depok, West Java.

        During the raid in Aceh, five people, including three policemen, were killed in a firefight with suspected terrorists in Lamkabeu, Aceh Besar district. The killed policemen were second brigadier Darmansyah and second brigadier Hendrik Kusumo from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) of the Aceh regional police command and first brigadier Boas Waosiri, a member of the Densus 88 police anti-terror unit.

         The two others are believed to be members of the armed group that had clashed with the police whose identities were still unknown.    
    Upon arrival at Bhayangkara Hospital in Banda Aceh all the bodies were taken to the morgue. Newsmen were not allowed to enter the hospital.

         Eleven Brimob members from the Aceh regional police command were taken to the Zainoel Abidin hospital after being wounded in the fight lasting from 2pm to around 6pm local time.

         The fight flared up after Brimob and Densus 88 members besieged a residential area in Lamkabeu since Tuesday (2/3) believed to have been used as a hiding place by an armed group suspected to be part of the Jalin group network in Jantho, capital of Aceh Besar district.

         According to General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, police are still pursuing  at least 30 people suspected of involvement in a terrorist network in Aceh. "More or less 30. Yes, 30 others are still being pursued," he said.

         In the meantime, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said on Tuesday that terrorists were planning to use Aceh as their base in Southeast Asia. "We have detected that they were building strength to use Aceh as their movement base but only now could we act to arrest them," he said.

         The police success in uncovering and arresting or killing suspected terrorists was made in the runup to  US President Barack Obama's visit to  Indonesia in mid-March 2010. However, it was believed that terrorist activities in Aceh Province did not affect the US President's planned visit.

         "The international world, including the USA has admitted that Indonesia is  consistently fighting  terrorism with qualified personnel," said Anti Terror desk chief of the office of the coordinating minister for political and security affairs , Ansyaad Mbai.

    

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ENJOY YOUR NEW YEAR WITHOUT THREAT OF TERROR

By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, Dec 22 (ANTARA) - Unlike previously,  everyone, including domestic and foreign tourists, can in the new year feel secure in visiting  shopping centers, tourist resorts or staying in luxury hotels in various parts of Indonesia.

         Terrorists are unlikely to launch attacks and would rather keep silent at least for several years after  their top leaders and other operatives were eliminated by the Indonesian Police's Detachment-88 Anti-Terror Unit. So, 2010 is likely be a year free from terror attacks.

         "Terrorist activity in Indonesia is expected to decline for several years after the recent elimination of top terror mastermind Noordin M Top and a number of his lieutenants," former chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Syamsir Siregar said recently.

          The crack-down on and killing of several terrorist leaders this year will prompt existing terrorist cells and groups to hide.

          Malaysia's top terrorist Dr Azhari was killed in a police raid in Kota Batu, East Java in 2005 while his top aide Malaysia's Noordin M Top was slain in Solo, Central Java, a few months ago. In the meantime, Noordin's successor, Syaifudin Zuhri, was also shot dead in Ciputat, Tangerang, near Jakarta last October.

         While toop terrorists Amrozi, Muklas and Imam Samudra have been executed.

         These terrorists were responsible for a series of terror attacks on certain targets in various parts of the country such as the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels and other targets, including those in the first and second Bali bombings in 2002 that killed hundreds of people.

         The anti-terror unit of the National Police Headquarters had arrested 466 terror suspects since the Bali bombing incident in 2002.  A total of 14 of the number were killed because they resisted arrest when police located them.

         Although the notorious terror criminals have been eliminated, cautioun must continue to be exercised. The ideology that justifies  violence to achieve a goal still exists. Thus, the people need to remain alert to the threat of terrorism.

         Siregar warned that the quiet situation of the terrorist groups must  be anticipated because this time it was a break for them to consolidate and build the strength of their organization to launch attacks in the future.

        "So, we have to remain alert although they have temporarily stopped their activities," he said.

        On how long they would stay quiet, Syamsir Siregar said it could be up to four to five years. "This will depend on the map of their strength. So, we should remain alert because terror acts are almost impossible to predict although indicators of their plans can be detected," he said.

         According to Chief of the Detachment-88 Anti-Terror Unit Senior Commissioner Tito Karnavian, the terrorist ideology which allows  violence to achieve its goals would continue  to develop in 2010.

         He said the threat of terrorist attacks had admittedly been reduced since the killing of Noordin M Top and his lieutenants but it did not mean that the terrorism problem was over. This is because thier ideology still exists among the people.

         This ideology could gain further support and strength both at home and abroad. Local conflict with religious nuance such an in Poso and Ambon could serve as a factor from inside the country. "If a goup of Muslims felt it was oppressed, it would create an impetus to the revival of this ideology," Tito Karnavian said.

         In the meantime, factors that could cause the revival of terrorism ideology in the country included the conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Irak.

         In an effort to handle terrorism, the Central Board of Nahdatul Ulama (PBNU/the country's largest Muslim organization), suggested last month the establishment of a National Anti-Terrorism Board.

        PBNU Chairman Masykuri Abdillah said the board should be formed like the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (BNN) which seriously plays an active role in the fight against narcotics, Masykuri Abdillah said the National Anti-Terrorism Board was necessary to be formed to fight against terrorism.

         He said the anti-terror desk at Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs had weak position and therefore it could not play its role optimally.. "It is better for the anti-terror desk to be improved as national anti-terror board like the National Anti-Narcotics Agency, because both narcotics and terrorism posed similar danger and threat," said Masykuri, the professor of Jakarta Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN Syarif Hidayatullah).

         The national anti-terror board should be made up of various public elements including the military and police personnel and religious figures because terrorism in Indonesia was carried out in the name of religion.

         Through the board, various efforts to manage terrorism in the country could be well coordinated, because the threat of terrorism at present has become a common concern in the community.

         PBNU as part of civil society has done a lot to prevent terrorism through education program, poverty eradication, and interfaith dialogs, Masykuri said.

         But he added that if the government was less optimal in dealing with economic imbalance, injustice, and other political participation, then the threat of terrorism would remain a serious problem in the country.

         Adrinus Meliala, a noted criminologist from state University of Indonesia, expressed support if the government wants to form a national anti-terrorism body to synergize terrorism handling in Indonesia.  "This is big progress. However, it is still being considered whether it will be formed into a committee or a division at a preventive level. So far the concept of strategy is still unclear," Adrianus Meliala said.

           Adrianus said the body would function more like an intelligence analyst specializing on terrorism. It also involves analysis, intelligence and combat but will not only be a special detachment but it also has a military unit with special characteristics, he said.

         "Like in the air force we have 'Paskhas' (special unit), in the navy, the marines unit, and in the army 'Kopassus'. So it is hoped its movement will be more harmonious," he said.

    

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BODY OF NOORDIN'S 'SUCCESOR' STILL BEING EXAMINED

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 10 (ANTARA) - The bodies of two suspected terrorists -- one believed to be Noordin M Top's successor, an expert in recruiting suicide bombers -- are still being examined by forensic experts at Kramat Jati Police hospital. Police will announce on Monday the identities of the two dead terror suspects.
However, police believe that the two bodies are those of Syaifudin Zuhri bin Djaelani alias Udin alias Soleh (believed to be the successor of Noordin M Top) and Mohamad Syahrir alis Aing. Both were killed in an anti-terror police raid on their hideout, in Ciputat, South Tangerang, a western suburb of Jakarta, at almost noon on Friday.
The two bodies underwent identification process at the Indonesian Automatic Finger Print Identification System (Inafis) at the hospital on Friday but none of the Inafis team members would provide information when they left the hospital at 4.45 pm.
Spokesman of the National Police Heaquarters Insp. General Nanan Soekarna said police could not yet ascertain the identities of the two terror suspects who were shot dead by the Densus-88 anti-terror police unit in Ciputat on Friday.
But he believed that the two bodies were those of Syaifudin Zuhri and Mohamad Syahrir. However, Nanan said the police would only officially confirm their identities after receiving the outcome of forensic tests conducted by the Disaster Victim Investigation (DVI) Team of the Kramat Jati Police Hospital.
He said police were forced to shoot the two because they had tried to resist arrest by throwing three small bombs at police officers approaching their room in a students' boarding house.
Syaifudin himself is so far known as being a resident of Telaga Kahuripan housing complex in Parung, Bogor, West Java.
After the raid at 11.15 am, police found seven bombs in the room they had occupied.
Before the raid, members of the police's Special Detachment 88 anti-terror unit had arrested a man known by his initials FR who was believed to have served as a courier for the two terror suspects. On the chronology of the raid, Nanan said police would give the media a detailed account on Monday, after obtaining the result of the forensic examinations.
Syaifudin Zuhri and Mohamad Syahrir who were involved in the twin bombing at the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels that killed 9 people and injured more than 50 others on July 17, 2009, are brothers.
They are also bothers-in-law of Ibrohim or Boim, a florist at JW Marriott who played a role in the bombing of the hotel. Ibrohim died in an-anti terror police raid in Temanggung, Solo, Central Java, on August 8, 2009.
Syaifudin Zuhri was known to have the ability to recruit suicide bombers while Mohammad Syahrir had expertise in assembling bombs. Syahrir once worked as a mechanic at an airline company.
Following the success of the Densus-88 anti-terror unit in its raid on Syaifudin Zuhri's hideout, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who following the JW Marriot bombing claimed he himself had also become a target of the terrorists, expressed his appreciation.
"The national police chief has reported about the finding of terrorist suspects and the raid that followed that led to the deaths of two suspects. Two were dead but for details it would be better wait for the national police chief's explanation. The national police chief just now had reported another success in anti-terrorism operations. He however said that two more were still wanted," the president was quoted by his spokesman Andi Mallarangeng as saying.
He said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had expressed his appreciation to the police on Friday for their performance in eradicating terrorism while calling for complete eradication of terrorist networks.
Andi said the president had called for complete eradication of terrorism so that no terrorists would disturb the peace of minds of the people.
"The President thanked the police for their performance and would continue to give encouragement to the police to seize the others and rid the country of terrorist networks. We wish to develop the country and therefore none must be allowed to conduct damages with actions that would harm the economy, the innocent," he said.
Since the terror attacks on JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels which killed nine people and injured over 50 others in Jakarta on July 17, 2009, the Densus-88 anti-terror police unit has been able to launch at least four raids on terrorists hideouts and killed several terrorists, one of whom was the most wanted Noordin M Top.
Noordin M Top was killed along with three others in a raid on a house in Solo, Central Java, on September 17, 2009. Police also arrested three suspects.
The police attack on Noordin M Top hideout was carried out less than a month after it had successfully raided on a terror hideout in a housing complex in Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java, on August 7, 2009, where two terror suspects, Eko Joko Suprianto and Air Setiawan were killed. Both had planned to launch a bomb attack within the next three weeks.
The following day of August 8, 2009, police raided a house where Noordin M Top was suspected to be hiding in Beji village, Temanggung district, Central Java. Police killed a terrorist suspect who was initially believed to be Noordin but DNA tests later proved that he was Ibrohim, the florist who was wanted in the JW Marriott boming.***4***

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