ABC AUSTRALIA, 26/09/2002 06:54:47
Terrorists pose threat to South-East Asia
In a speech about the terrorism threat in South-East Asia, Defence Minister Robert
Hill says there is one specific group that is particularly dangerous. It is called Jemaah
Islamiyah and is linked to Al Qaeda.
Transcript:
As we go to air, Defence Minister Robert Hill is finishing off a speech about the
terrorism threat in South-East Asia and he is naming one specific group as being
particularly dangerous.
It is call Jemaah Islamiyah and it is linked to Al Qaeda now there are reports that the
Indonesian cleric, reputed to be the group's spiritual leader, has been to Australia, at
least twice.
His name is Abu Bakar Bashir and our Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is only one
of many who wants the Indonesian cleric arrested.
Margot O'Neill reports.
MARGOT O'NEILL: The softly spoken Indonesian cleric with the firebrand reputation
warned this week of a backlash from Indonesians if he was arrested.
ABU BAKAR BASHIR, INDONESIAN MUSLIM CLERIC (TRANSLATION): I think any
attempt to arrest me will not be just about myself.
It will mean firstly a humiliation to Islam and its followers. I predict Muslim people will
react by defending Islam.
MARGOT O'NEILL: But Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has told
Lateline that he supports calls from the US, Malaysia and Singapore for the cleric to
be arrested.
ALEXANDER DOWNER, FOREIGN MINISTER: Should he be arrested? Yes, I mean,
the fact is that every effort should be made to bring under control terrorist
organisations in South-East Asia.
If arresting him is going to help to bring under control some of these types of
operations, then that will be to Indonesia's best advantage.
But this is something, ultimately, the Indonesians are going to have to work out
themselves and it has got to be done, if it's to be done at all, in a way that's
consistent with Indonesian law.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Earlier this year, Indonesian police interviewed Bashir about his
alleged terrorist links.
They maintain there's no evidence of criminal activity to warrant pressing charges.
But Time magazine last week published a leaked CIA report on Al Qaeda in
South-East Asia implicating the cleric.
Based on the confessions of an alleged Al Qaeda member - Omar Al Farouq - the CIA
report says Abu Bakar Bashir is a key terrorist leader in South-East Asia and that he
ordained operations, including church bombings.
ABU BAKAR BASHIR (TRANSLATION): I've never known, met or had any relationship
with Omar Al Farouq. The news stories are fabricated lies.
MARGOT O'NEILL: But Omar Al Farouq's confessions were treated so seriously by
the US that various American and some Australian embassies were closed in the
region during the September 11 anniversary.
At the same time, 21 more alleged Al Qaeda terrorists were arrested in Singapore
with plans to attack chemical and water plants.
ALEXANDER DOWNER: We've been very concerned about links between some of the
Islamic extremist organisations in South-East Asia, which, by the way, are
transboundary organisations -- as the Singapore arrests demonstrate.
They don't just operate in Indonesia and Al Qaeda - there's no doubt that there are
substantial links there.
There's no doubt that some Al Qaeda people have moved from the Middle East into
South-East Asia. Um, we have no doubt about that and it's matter of enormous
concern.
MARGOT O'NEILL: There may even be links into Australia. Leading international
expert on Indonesian Islamic fundamentalists Greg Fealy says he believes Abu Bakar
Bashir has visited Australia at least twice.
GREG FEALY, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: I've heard from officials that
he's come to Australia at least twice.
But what's not clear to me is what kind of activity he was engaged in while he was
here, whether he was just giving religious sermons or addresses or whether he was
engaged in any sinister activity - that is not at all clear.
MARGOT O'NEILL: Abu Bakar Bashir has told Lateline that he's never set foot inside
Australia, but the allegation persists.
Another suspected terrorist arrested in Malaysia has also reportedly claimed that the
cleric has visited Australia numerous times.
The Federal Government is refusing to comment.
Meanwhile, the American campaign to convince Indonesians that Al Qaeda is a real
threat appears to have backfired, with growing anger at what's perceived at CIA
propaganda, even among moderate Muslims who met the US ambassador yesterday.
RALPH BOYCE, US AMBASSADOR FOR INDONESIA: At first I said, "Yes, Al
Qaeda has activities in Indonesia."
GREG FEALY: The Americans probably leaked that CIA report in order to persuade
South-East Asians, particularly Indonesian Muslims, that Abu Bakar Bashir should be
arrested and it's had the reverse effect.
It has angered Muslims. It has made them more sceptical. It has added to the
pressure on the Megawati Government not to arrest him because it will be seen as
just caving in to US demands.
MARGOT O'NEILL: In fact, some of the claims made in the CIA report may not stand
up.
Some analysts doubt Al Farouq's claim that he was the key Al Qaeda operative in
South-East Asia and wonder whether he exaggerated his own role and that of Abu
Bakar Bashir's.
Margot O'Neill, Lateline.
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26/09/2002 06:54:47 | ABC Radio Australia News
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