ABC AUSTRALIA, 26/05/2002 18:20:38
Former Indonesian spy chief rejects US charge of terror network
A former chief of Indonesia's intelligence agency has dismissed US allegations of
Islamic terrorist bases in Indonesia and said it was unsupported by evidence.
Retired general Maulani said US analysts concluded the Al Qaeda network must exist
in Indonesia because it was composed of many islands, had a population of 220
million and there were some extreme Muslims in the community.
He said the US was trying to create the image there was an al-Qaeda network in
Indonesia, with the aim of forcing the Indonesian government to act more firmly in the
fight against terrorism.
The US State Department, in its annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report said
Washington was concerned that terrorists related to al-Qaeda were operating in
Indonesia.
26/05/2002 18:20:38 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
