LAKSAMANA.Net, May 26, 2005 04:34 PM
'Fugitive Bombers Behind Anti-US Threats'
Laksamana.Net - Fugitive Malaysian bombers Azahari Husin and Noordin Mohammad
Top may be responsible for a security threat that prompted the US to close its
embassy and all other diplomatic offices in Indonesia, police said Thursday (26/5/05).
National Police chief General Dai Bachtiar said Azahari's terrorist group, which over
recent years has staged a series of deadly bombings targeting Westerners in
Indonesia, was probably the source of the latest threat.
"The latest development is that there will possibly be another attack. But we are still
analyzing this. So perhaps it was the information from our analysis that has prompted
the US Embassy to not offer its services," he was quoted as saying by detikcom
online news portal.
He said Azahari's group had not issued a direct threat. "There has not yet been a
statement or a certain step indicating they will carry out an attack. But our available
intelligence analysis indicates there are preparations to conduct more attacks," he
said.
"This could be proven by communication among their group that they will carry out an
attack," he added.
Azahari and Noordin are Indonesia's most wanted men, suspected of involvement in
the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings that killed 202 people. They are also
alleged to have masterminded the August 2003 bomb blast that killed 12 people at
Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel and the September 2004 blast that killed 11 people
outside the Australian Embassy. The attacks have been blamed on regional terrorism
network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Terrorism experts say Azahari and Noordin are likely to continue to evade capture
because of their extensive network of sympathizers willing to hide them from police.
Indonesia has not banned Jemaah Islamiyah, although more than 100 of its followers
and sympathizers have been jailed since the Bali bombings.
Bachtiar said police were tightening security at the embassy and other possible
terrorist targets. "Furthermore, we are also conducting intelligence cooperation with
police from other countries," he said.
The closure of the diplomatic missions was announced in a statement by the US
Embassy warden. "The US Embassy and the US Consulate General wish to inform all
American citizens in Indonesia that the Embassy, Consulate General and all other US
government facilities in Indonesia will be closed beginning May 26, 2005 until further
notice because of a security threat," it said.
"The embassy regrets the inconvenience to Americans and Indonesians who had
planned to seek consular services while US offices are closed. Every effort will be
made to accommodate consular clients as quickly as possible once the embassy
and other US government offices in Indonesia re-open," it said.
The statement said the terrorist threat in Indonesia remains high. "Attacks could
occur at any time and could be directed against any location, including those
frequented by foreigners and identifiably American and other western facilities or
businesses in Indonesia."
The US move comes after Australia on May 18 urged its citizens to avoid traveling to
Indonesia because of a warning by the Jakarta Police of possible suicide bombings at
embassies, international schools, office buildings and shopping malls.
Jakarta Police chief Firman Gani said his officers had strengthened security at the
embassies of Australia, Britain and Japan. He said the terror threats were based on
intelligence reports by Indonesian police and the US.
In addition to the heavily fortified US Embassy in Central Jakarta, the US has
consulates in the East Java capital of Surabaya, the North Sumatra capital of Medan
and the resort island of Bali.
President & Vice President
The closures come during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's three-day visit to
the US.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla denied the timing of the threat was linked to Yudhoyono's
visit. "The US Embassy and consulates are often closed. So it's a coincidence that
this happens while the president is in the US," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
Asked whether he was afraid of his office's proximity to the US Embassy, Kalla
replied: "If I was frightened I would also close my office."
He said that although the security situation was deemed "conducive", the Indonesian
government could understand America's reasons for taking precautions based on
intelligence reports.
"We can understand matters of concern like this. The US is very sensitive because it
has personally suffered extremely horrifying problems [of terrorism]. So we understand
the US is more sensitive than other countries," he said.
Kalla then claimed that Indonesia was virtually free of terrorist threats, citing the
recent arrests of radicals in Ambon, the capital of Maluku province. "In Ambon almost
all of them have been found. Practically there is no terrorism threat like that."
'No Indications'
National Police spokesman Zainuri Lubis said the US Embassy would remain under
constant guard although officers had not seen any indications of terror plots.
"We have done some checking. We have not found any indications of bombing threats
but we continue to provide special protection to the embassy," he was quoted as
saying by state news agency Antara.
He said special police units such as anti-terror Detachment 88 and the Mobile
Brigade (Brimob) remained on 24-hour standby to deal with any terrorist activity.
"Our anti-terror detachment continues to be ready to make maximum efforts to handle
any terrorist attack. The unit was specially created for the purpose and therefore is
not being burdened with other tasks even if the police force in general is currently
preoccupied with the task of maintaining public security during the upcoming regional
administration chief elections," he said.
He encouraged Americans in Indonesia to resume their normal activities, but added it
was the right of the US to close its missions and issue travel warnings.
Kalimantan Threats
Bachtiar had on Wednesday said Azahari's group was probably behind bombing
threats against oil refineries in Kalimantan.
"On the basis of our evaluations and analyses, we believe the threats were issued by
Azahari's group," he said.
"We are continuing our efforts to hunt them down," he said, adding that Azahari and
Noordin often moved from one place to another, including in Kalimantan.
Bachtiar did not mention which oil refineries in Kalimantan had allegedly received
threats.
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