The Jakarta Post, 9/19/2002 4:20:05 PM
Akbar believes TNI's report on al-Qaeda network in Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): House of Representative Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Thursday
he trusted military information describing the existence of the al-Qaeda terrorist
network in Indonesia, a report said.
"The Indonesian Military commander disclosed that there are such indications, and
we trust his report as he is responsible for maintaining the unity of our territory,"
Akbar said, referring to a report delivered by Gen. Endriartono Sutarto that said
preliminary intelligence showed an al-Qaeda network does exist in Indonesia, Antara
reported.
About reports of a terrorist plot to kill President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Akbar said
the information would be followed up by the Indonesian Military, the National Police
and the NationalIntelligence Board.
Commenting on the reported assassination plan, Endriartono said security officers
were currently investigating the information received from the U.S. government.
He added that the information about the al-Qaeda network in Indonesia was obtained
from Umar al-Farouq, an alleged terrorist from a Middle Eastern country who was
detained in Indonesia and later handed over to authorities in the U.S.
Endriartono, citing information received from Al-Farouq, said the al-Qaeda network in
the country had carried out several plans, with a number of other missions still
unexecuted. Among the incidents reportedly linked to the terrorist network is
theSenen Atrium explosion last year and the Istiqlal Mosque blast in April 1999, both
located in Central Jakarta.
Discussing the arrest of four Indonesians on terrorism charges in the Philippines,
Akbar urged the government to provide the men all the necessary legal support.
The four Indonesians, identified as Uskar Makawata, Jaka Antari, Julkiri Letemba and
Rahman Yanis, were arrested last Saturday in separate antiterror sweeps in General
Santos City, southern Philippines.
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