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| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesian, Thai hard boyz maintain active al-Qaeda links |
| 2006-02-28 |
| TERRORISTS in Indonesia and Thailand are maintaining strong links with al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan and still represent a serious security threat, according to Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty. Speaking outside a counter-terrorism conference in Jakarta yesterday, he said the links were "quite strong, and we see intelligence on that almost every day". Although intelligence gained from recent arrests in Indonesia indicated that terror network Jemaah Islamiah had split up, small groups were moving "throughout the region, indicating they are trying to amass support and resources to continue their operations". He revealed that an Australian police terrorist tracking team was in the Philippines, hunting for two of the most wanted regional terrorists, Dulmatin and Umar Patek. It was also helping Indonesia hunt for Bali bombing ringleader Noordin Top. About 30 Australian police were involved, he said. Mr Keelty called for greater regional co-operation to combat terrorism. Opening the conference, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for countries in the region to fight together to address the "clear and present danger to our people". More attention needed to be given to the "battle for hearts and minds" against terrorists. It was vital that Western leaders vocally reject the publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad, Dr Yudhoyono said. "If not, I fear you will lose more Muslims to this battle of the hearts and minds." Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer endorsed Muslim leaders who had attacked terrorists justifying their attacks on religious grounds, but rejected Dr Yudhoyono's request to condemn the controversial cartoons, which have sparked widespread protests. Editors in a free society were able to make decisions about what they published, Mr Downer said. He said there was no excuse for the violent protests. Mr Downer said the "corrosive world view" that Islam was under attack from the West must be challenged. "To characterise this fight against terrorism as a fight against Islam is to invite not just a clash of civilisations but the broadening of support for terrorists." He announced that planning had begun for joint naval patrols with Indonesia to crack down on illegal fishing and other activities. He rejected Indonesia's requests for access to 43 Papuans seeking asylum in Australia. Mr Downer applauded Indonesia's tough anti-drugs laws. While Australia would protest against the two Bali nine death sentences, it would not request reduced terms for the others sentenced to life for heroin smuggling, he said. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |