The Federal Opposition says there are now at least half a dozen more extremist groups like Jemaah Islamiah (JI) operating in Indonesia. Labor's Foreign Affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd says about 100 JI operatives have been arrested in the last year but between 200 and 2,000 suspected members of the group remain at large.
| They've been decapitated, but there are lots of gunnies and lower-level controllers left. The are lots of pesanten in Indonesia... |
Mr Rudd has told ABC TV's Insiders program, there are worrying signs that other terrorist groups are emerging. "In the last 12 months in addition to JI, we've had spring up some seven or eight or up to nine JI-like organisations as well, with individual memberships of maybe 100 or so," Mr Rudd said. "It's a big problem and I think the takeout message for Australia is to deal with this in the long-term. What Australia needs is a comprehensive regional strategy on terrorism of the type which we don't at present have."
| Any details on what's needed, Kevin? Or are you just trying to rack up some political points? |
Mr Rudd says it is worrying some extremist schools are being used to recruit potential new terrorists. "If we in Australia are serious about the long-term solution to this problem in terms of the recruitment areas, the recruitment zones, then frankly what we've got to deal with is refunding and resourcing the Indonesian public education system," Mr Rudd said. He wants Australia to help fund Indonesia's education system in a bid to prevent the spread of terrorism.
| "It's up to us to solve their problems..." |
A spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer says Australia is already focusing on Indonesian schools as part of its response to the terrorism threat. He says it has also signed a series of counter-terrorism agreements with South-East Asian countries and will host of regional ministerial summit on the issue next year. |