The Sydney Morning Herald, June 6, 2005 - 5:10PM
Suspected militant near Jakarta: police
One of south-east Asia's most wanted Islamic militants may be hiding on the
outskirts of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Indonesian police said.
The claim came as security was stepped up at hotels and shopping centres following
warning from the US.
Police spokesman Tjiptono said that although police in Jakarta were already on high
alert, they had yet to see signs an attack was imminent.
"We think Azahari and his people are just outside Jakarta," Tjiptono told Reuters,
referring to the Malaysian fugitive accused by Indonesian police of being the chief
bomb-maker for the regional al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant network.
"We are increasing security as a precaution. We can't tell what they are planning to
do, but we're on guard."
Police have said Azahari is among the masterminds behind a spate of bombings in
Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali blasts that killed 202 people, the 2003 JW Marriott
Hotel bombing in Jakarta which claimed 12 lives, and last year's blast outside the
Australian embassy that killed 10 people.
The United States embassy on Friday warned Americans of a threat to bomb the
lobbies of hotels frequented by Westerners in Jakarta.
Tensions have also been raised by the May 28 blasts that tore through a market in
the predominantly Christian city of Tentena on eastern Sulawesi island. That attack
killed 22 people, making it the bloodiest since the Bali nightclub blasts.
Police have identified two suspects in that bombing, but said while it bore the
hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiah they had yet to determine a motive.
Despite heightened security at major hotels in the capital, there appeared to be little
impact on occupancy.
"In fact, last weekend our occupancy rate went up," Yos Rizal, director of sales of the
five-star Aryadutta hotel.
"But we are tightening security, and we have asked for additional police to safeguard
the compound."
Security at major shopping centres is also tight, although police with automatic
weapons have done little to deter shoppers.
The US Embassy and others have issued a number of warnings to their citizens about
security in Indonesia in recent years. Among other things, the warnings have advised
people to avoid hotels, shopping centres, nightclubs and housing areas popular with
Westerners.
About 85 per cent of Indonesia's 220 million people are Muslim. But in some eastern
parts, Christian and Muslim populations are about equal. Communal tensions have in
the past been exploited by radical Islamic groups.
© 2005 AAP
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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