AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Monday February 18, 2002 11:31 AM
Terrorist leaders still at large in Indonesia: Singapore's Lee
Singapore remains at risk from a terrorist attack because leaders of regional extremist
cells are still at large in Indonesia, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said.
The Straits Times reported Monday that the former prime minister, speaking at a
community gathering, likened terrorist groups to multinational corporations with a
presence in several countries.
He said despite Singapore's arrest of 13 suspects with alleged links to the al-Qaeda
network led by the world's most wanted man Osama bin Laden, it was still in danger
because the terrorist brains remained free.
They need foot soldiers to do the legwork in Singapore, such as taking videos and
buying explosives, but masterminds make the final decision on when to come in,
assemble bombs, go to the targets and set off the explosives, Lee said.
"You buy materials in one place and prepare them, and I make arrangements from
another place," Lee reportedly said in describing how the network operates.
Regional security officials believe suspected terrorist cells busted in Singapore,
Malaysia and the Philippines are directed by leaders in neighboring Indonesia, the
world's largest Muslim nation.
Authorities in Malaysia have identified three Indonesian preachers as responsible for
religious and militant indoctrination of a Malaysian group accused of planning to
topple the government violently.
Malaysia has detained 23 suspected Islamic militants, including four Indonesians and
three Singaporeans.
Philippine police have arrested an Indonesian, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, on suspicion
of being the explosives expert for the Jemaah Islamiyah group, said to be planning a
bombing campaign against US targets in Singapore.
The United States, which is helping the Philippines in its fight against Muslim
extremists, has urged Indonesia to take firmer action against suspected terrorists.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
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