ABC AUSTRALIA, 04/04/2004 08:46:22
Malaysia backs hard line on JI
Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak says harsh actions against militants
are justified.
He made the statement in reference to televised confessions by four Malaysians
allegedly involved in the Jemaah Islamiyah network.
"Confessions of JI Members" was aired Friday night by Malaysia's private television
station TV3 which featured four alleged Malaysian militants under arrest in Indonesia.
Mr Najib, who is also defence minister, says the government's move to detain dozens
of alleged JI members helped cripple the group, which is accused of the 2002 Bali
bombing which killed 202 people.
In the programme, one of the men confirmed links between JI and Osama bin Laden
by alleging that members carried out bombings in accordance with a 'fatwa' or
religious edict issued by Bin Laden.
Mohamed Nasir said Bin Laden's call on Muslims to kill Americans was passed on to
members by two of JI's leaders, Hambali and Abu Bakar Bashir.
04/04/2004 08:46:22 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
