The Sydney Morning Herald, January 8, 2005 - 12:29PM
Indonesia rejects US spy rumours
The Indonesian military has moved to quash rumours that US forces delivering aid to
tsunami-wracked Sumatra are setting up a permanent military base there, a
touchstone issue that officials fear could sour goodwill toward the American relief
effort in the world's most populous Muslim country.
The Indonesian military spokesman's comments come one day after officials warned
that a radical Islamic group that has set up camp alongside aid groups in hard-hit
Aceh province may try to stir up anti-American sentiment, and as regional security
officials warn that terrorist groups known to operate in Indonesia will be looking for
opportunities to attack Americans.
Aid groups setting up operations at the main airport in the provincial capital of Banda
Aceh said they were aware of security concerns in the region and had taken
precautions, but that they were also relying on goodwill surrounding the massive relief
effort for their safety.
Indonesian military spokesman Major-General Syafrie Syamsuddin held a press
conference in Jakarta, the national capital, to deny rumours that US military teams
helping in the relief effort were being used as spies and that the US military was trying
to set up a long-term base in Aceh.
"They are merely dealing with a humanitarian operation, not a military one,"
Syamsuddin said. "They should not be accused of various things ... that can make
them upset. Every step of their movement in Aceh is by design and well-directed."
It was not clear what the source of the rumours were, nor how widely they had
circulated, although opposition politicians have accused the government of being
unprepared to cope with the disaster, forcing into the "shameful" position of having to
accept foreign help.
"If the United States and Australia act beyond their humanitarian task, then we have
to resist," said Amien Rais, who heads Indonesia's highest legislative body. "But if
otherwise, we ought to thank them."
US Navy and Marine helicopters have flown scores of relief missions in recent days,
often reaching remote villages along the stricken western coast otherwise cut off from
outside help.
The American helicopters, from US military ships in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra,
have been landing briefly at the airport in Banda Aceh to pick up aid and deliver
evacuated villagers. They return to their offshore bases after each day's missions.
Indonesia is hoping the relief mission will help restore ties between its military and
that of the US, which were cut during East Timor's bloody separation from Indonesia
in 1999.
A security official in the Philippines, which is one of several South-east Asian
countries, including Indonesia, where the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Jemaah
Islamiah operates, warned that extremists in the region would take any opportunity to
launch attacks on Americans - including those involved in the aid effort.
A terrorist attack in Aceh "is very possible", the official said, on condition of
anonymity. "The ambition of these people is to take out Americans any time there is
an opportunity, to inflict casualties among Americans."
An attack would become more likely if outsiders were perceived to have motives other
than delivering aid to Aceh, a fiercely independent region where separatist guerrillas
have fought the government for two decades.
There have been unconfirmed reports of isolated skirmishes between Aceh rebels and
government soldiers since the disaster, and the UN and other aid agencies have
deployed security officers or taken other precautions.
Adding to security concerns was the appearance of Laskar Mujahideen among the
scores of groups at the Banda Aceh airport.
The group, which allegedly was formed as an Islamic guerrilla force to fight Christians
in another part of Indonesia in 1999-2000, says it is in Aceh to help the aid effort and
offer religious solace to survivors.
US officials say they are aware of the group's presence and are watching its
movements, but have not upgraded their security posture.
The UN said it had no immediate concerns about Laskar Mujahideen.
"This is a situation where everyone is pulling together to help the people who have
been affected by this disaster," Michael Elmquist, the UN official in charge of
operations on Sumatra island, told The Associated Press. "We need all the
assistance we can get."
The Singapore Armed Forces, which is flying helicopter relief missions from an
Indonesian military base in Meulaboh on Sumatra's western coast, said it was aware
of potential security threats.
"We have contingencies if the situation deteriorates. Right now there is nothing
specific," said Colonel Tan Chuan-in, who heads humanitarian support group in
Meulaboh.
© 2005 AP
Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald.
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