Security tightened for 'return' of JI

Nurni Sulaiman ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Balikpapan   |  Tue, 03/11/2008 11:03 AM  |  The Archipelago

Security forces said they were boosting border security around Berau and Nunukan, East Kalimantan, in anticipation of an expected 300 Jamaah Islamiyah members returning from combat training in the Philippines.

"The East Kalimantan Police have deployed a special team from the anti-terror and intelligence units to anticipate members of the terrorist network from entering the country," East Kalimantan Police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Wayan Tjatra told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"They are positioned along the border and the police have detected troubled spots, such as between Nunukan and Berau, and will monitor them thoroughly," Wayan said.

In 2002, JI members connected to the Bali bombers, now facing death row, were arrested in both cities, located along the border with East Malaysia.

Nunukan and Berau border immediately with Tawau in the East Malaysian state of Sabah.

Nunukan is the closest regency and easily accessible by sea from the Philippines.

"The sea route is usually traversed by the radical group members returning from the Philippines, but we are guarding the areas more tightly," Wayan said.

Other sea entry points to the country include Berau, Sebatik and Tarakan, which are accessible from Mindanao in the Philippines and from Semporna and Tawau in Malaysia.

Thanks to a lack of security, JI members can sail to Sulawesi, Java and other cities in the country from Nunaken, Wayan said.

Police in North Sulawesi said they had intensified security in Manado because of its accessibility from the Philippines.

Although it borders directly with the Philippines by sea, it takes 20 to 28 hours by boat to reach Manado, which may lead JI members to use the Tawau-Nunukan route, Wayan said.

Nunukan is not only rife with illegal entries but is also a human trafficking and illegal arms route, he said.

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