The Jakarta Post, March 03, 2007
Sulawesi police vow cooperation in fight against terrorism
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
Police on Sulawesi island renewed their commitment Friday to cooperate in
preventing acts of terrorism and capturing domestic and foreign militants who use the
region as an entry, exit or transit point.
The commitment was announced by South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Aryanto
Budihardjo after taking part in a meeting with police officials from the island's five
provinces in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Friday.
The five provinces are South, Southeast, Central and North Sulawesi and Gorontalo.
Aryanto said Sulawesi is a strategic location for terrorists because of its close
proximity to the Philippines and Malaysia.
Proof of this is in the recent discovery of firearms from the Philippines found during
raids against militants in Poso, Central Sulawesi.
He said Sulawesi was also used as a transit point for those involved in terror acts in
the eastern part of the country such as Ambon and Maluku.
"We have to improve cooperation and coordination to prevent terrorists, both domestic
and foreign, from entering Sulawesi and using the region as a transit point," Aryanto
said.
He said the police have also agreed to cooperate in searching for and arresting
militants wanted by police in Poso.
He said there is a chance the 12 suspected militants still at large are hiding out in
other provinces in Sulawesi. The list of suspects was originally 29 but some have
been arrested or have surrendered.
"Hunting down and arresting wanted militants is one of our targets. Police in Sulawesi
don't want these militants to launch acts of terror like in Poso.
"We also don't want them to return to Poso and reignite conflict. So we are all
committed to arresting them," said Aryanto.
He said there have been an estimated 50 acts of terror across Sulawesi in the last
year. Most of these cases took place in Central Sulawesi.
Also concerning is the illegal drug trade in the region, with 283 cases in the last year.
Under the cooperation agreement, police in the five provinces will set up joint posts
and exchange information on cases.
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