LAKSAMANA.Net, July 27, 2004 08:14 PM
Terrorists Still in Our Midst: Tanjung
Laksamana.Net - Parliament speaker Akbar Tanjung says this week's explosion at
the General Elections Commission (KPU) building in Jakarta and other recent
bombings in various parts of the country show that Indonesia remains susceptible to
terror attacks.
"These incidents indicate Indonesia is not yet safe. Threats are still emerging and
terrorists are still in the midst of the community,” he was quoted as saying Tuesday
(27/7/04) by detikcom online news portal.
He urged police and security authorities to increase their vigilance to prevent more
attacks.
There have been at least five explosions in Indonesia so far this month. One man was
killed when a bomb exploded in North Sumatra province's Langkat regency. Two
bombs exploded in the West Java capital city of Bandung, and one in the Central
Sulawesi town of Poso.
The latest incident occurred on Monday when a low explosive went off in a restroom at
the KPU headquarters in Central Jakarta as officials were preparing to announce the
results of the July 5 presidential election. Police are still searching for the
perpetrators.
Although the KPU attack claimed no lives and caused only minor damage, it raised
concern over the potential for more violence in Indonesia.
Tanjung, who also leads Golkar Party, expressed hope the second round of the
presidential election, scheduled for September 20, would proceed peacefully.
"All sides are hoping the round two of the presidential election will be peaceful.
Security authorities have been asked to be on the alert to ensure it proceeds safely,”
he said.
Megawati Reaffirms Terror Fight
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who will face her former security minister Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono in the September 20 election, on Tuesday reaffirmed
Indonesia's commitment to fighting terrorism.
"We have not only searched for, arrested and tried perpetrators of those heinous
criminal acts, but we have also investigated them and uncovered their roots, as well
as their planners and supporters," she was quoted as saying by state news agency
Antara.
She was speaking on the resort island of Bali at the opening of the 4th Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) Transportation Ministers Meeting, which will run for
three days.
Megawati said that despite various shortcomings faced by Indonesia, the world has
become witness to the country's serious effort to fight terrorism.
"If I'm not mistaken, Indonesia may probably be the first and only country to have
consistently resolved acts of terrorism. We are fully conscious of the fact that our
uncompromising stance may harbor risks, bearing in mind that the majority of our
people are adherents of Islam," she was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Commenting on the roots of terror, she said the Palestinian issue and injustice toward
certain groups were some of the reasons why global terrorism is on the rise.
Megawati did not mention last week's controversial decision by Indonesia's
Constitutional Court to declare the country's anti-terror law unconstitutional.
Indonesia has been hit by numerous bombings over the past four years, with many of
the attacks blamed on regional terrorism network Jemaah Islamiyah.
Thirty-three militants have been convicted over the October 2002 Bali nightclub
bombings that killed 202 people.
Many others have also been jailed over attacks on churches, malls and the August
2003 bombing of Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel that killed 12 people.
But police warn that several of the militants involved in the Bali and Marriott blasts
remain at large and are likely planning more attacks.
10-Year Sentence Sought for Militant
Prosecutors at South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday recommended a 10-year jail
sentence for a man suspected of involvement in the planning of the Bali and Marriott
bombings.
Mohammad Ihsan alias Jhoni Hendrawan alias Idris is charged under the anti-terror
law, even though the Constitutional Court has ruled the legislation cannot be used
retroactively.
"The defendant has been proven to have taken part in planning acts of terrorism,"
prosecutor Tubagus Arief Aziz was quoted as saying by Agence France-Presse.
He said Idris attended several meetings between August and September 2002 in
which plans for Bali attacks were discussed, and surveyed targets.
The defendant also detonated a bomb that exploded harmlessly near the US
Consulate in Bali at the same time as the deadly nightclub bombings, he added.
Aziz said Idris was also guilty of having "taken part in an evil plot or assisted in
executing an act of terrorism" because he transported explosives to Jakarta for
Marriott bombing.
After the court session, Aziz told reporters Idris was charged under the anti-terror law
prior to the Constitutional Court's ruling. "We are continuing to use Law No.16 and we
will now leave it to the judges to decide," he was quoted as saying by AFP.
Constitutional Court head Jimly Asshiddiqie on Monday said all of the convictions of
the Bali bombers would not be affected by the ruling. "As for cases which are still in
court or in the appeal process, we leave it to judges to consider," he added.
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