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Indonesia raises link to Bashir
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The
Age [Australia]
October
23, 2002
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Indonesia raises link to Bashir
October 23 2002
By Matthew Moore
Indonesia Correspondent
Jakarta
Indonesia has moved closer to blaming radical Muslim group Jemaah Islamiah for the
bombings in Bali, with the country's police chief, General Da'i Bachtiar, saying he was
"developing analysis in that direction".
Until now, Indonesian police have been careful not to name Jemaah Islamiah, or its
spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir, as suspects, although the Australian and other
governments were quick to blame the group.
At a media conference yesterday, General Bachtiar said police were "now trying to
find the links between Jemaah Islamiah, Hambali (Mr Bashir's deputy)", and the
recent bombings.
He did not provide any evidence linking the group with the bombings.
His comments appear to be a further move by the Indonesian Government and
security forces to isolate Mr Bashir, who has been arrested for alleged terrorist
attacks unconnected with the Bali bombings, and who is now in hospital in Solo,
Java.
Police said they were preparing a sketch of a suspect wanted in connection with the
bombings.
"Witness statements indicate one person is believed to be the perpetrator and, based
on that, we are going to provide a sketch," said General Bachtiar.
He said there was no proof that Jemaah Islamiah - linked to al Qaeda and accused of
terrorist plots by some South-East Asian officials - was responsible for the October 12
bombings, but the attack bore marks of its operations.
"We haven't found the linkage, but taking into account the analysis we've developed,
there is a similarity in terms of operations," General Bachtiar said.
The Indonesian Government and Western diplomats had anticipated demonstrations
or other angry reactions following the arrest of Mr Bashir and the weekend introduction
of anti-terrorist laws.
Such protests have not eventuated, but there is concern that this could change
quickly if police try to remove Mr Bashir from hospital to take him into custody.
Mr Bashir has consistently denied any involvement in terrorism and the existence of
Jemaah Islamiah.
Although the 64-year old cleric is not accused of making or planting the bombs in
Kuta, many suspect he and his deputy, known as Hambali, of involvement in
organising the attack.
General Bachtiar said that some suspected terrorists detained in Singapore in
December had accused Hambali of instructing them to carry out terrorist attacks
there against targets including the US embassy. He said Hambali was also
connected to a grenade attack in Jakarta last year.
General Bachtiar said police were unaware of where Hambali was hiding but,
according to information from Malaysia, he was in Malaysia until September 11 when
he left for Afghanistan.
The general said police did not know what Hambali looked like.
Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned that, based on intelligence
sources, Indonesia could expect more terrorist attacks. These could be in different
places and in different forms to the Bali bombings.
"We have no other choice but to carry out intensive steps to stop them," he said,
defending the country's new security regulations.
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