You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Down Under
Downer to push for JI ban
2005-10-05
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will urge Jakarta to ban Jemaah Islamiah (JI) when he travels to Indonesia next week but warns Australia cannot force its will on other nations. The Government is under pressure to convince Indonesia to outlaw the terrorist group thought to be responsible for the weekend bombings in Bali, which killed 22 people including up to four Australians.

But there are signs Australia's demands may fall on deaf ears.
Signs? Portents? Is it time for Obvious Man™?
Indonesia's deputy ambassador in Canberra Kristiarto Legowo cautions that focusing on a JI ban may divert attention from the hunt to catch the killers. "It is only wise that we avoid ourselves from something that may deflect our attentions on the real issue," he told the Seven Network.
"We must focus on root causes and the anger of Muslims," he added.
Australia is sending more police to Bali in a bid to catch the masterminds behind the bombings which took the lives of 16-year-old Brendan Fitzgerald, from WA, and Jennifer Williamson, 48, of Newcastle. Authorities are still trying to identify another two bodies, believed to be Newcastle couple Colin and Fiona Zwolinski, both aged in their mid-40s.

As Australians recover from the traumatic weekend events, calls are growing for the Government to force Indonesia to take action on JI. Prime Minister John Howard reiterated that banning JI was not the be all and end all of tackling terrorism in Indonesia. But he believes tolerating the group sends the wrong message to the majority moderate Indonesian people. "While ever a country tolerates as a legal organisation, as body that is clearly involved in terrorist acts, it is sending the wrong signal to those who might listen to the propaganda of those organisations," Mr Howard told Macquarie Radio.

Mr Howard and Mr Downer both admit that for all Australia's representations, it is ultimately a decision for Indonesia's legal system.
Posted by:Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World

00:00