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Terrorists plan to set up base in Aceh: Governor
Terrorist activity in Aceh, where a terror cell reportedly plans to build a new base for their Southeast Asia network, has been under surveillance since last year, according to Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf
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T
errorist activity in Aceh, where a terror cell reportedly plans to build a new base for their Southeast Asia network, has been under surveillance since last year, according to Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf.
The governor said eight members of the armed terror group in Aceh Besar regency were initially recruited for a mission in the Gaza Strip.
“Intelligence has uncovered their intentions to set up a base for a Southeast Asian terror network, but that plan was implemented only recently,” Irwandi told a media conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said the men were sent to Java to undergo training before the Gaza mission, but never left, and were instead recruited by a group for another mission.
“The eight Acehnese who underwent additional training in Java are the pioneers of the terror movement in the province.
“They underwent basic training including weapons training,” Irwandi said as quoted by Antara.
On Tuesday, the police reportedly shot dead a top fugitive militant wanted over the 2002
Bali bombings in a raid in Pamulang, Banten, that was linked to a series of assaults on suspected Islamic militants in Aceh.
In Aceh the police this week raided a terrorist training camp, killing three terrorist suspects and arresting 21 others. Three police officers and two civilians were also killed in several firefights.
Former governor of the Indonesian Institute of Police Science, Farouk Muhammad, said in Jakarta on Tuesday that he was not surprised that terrorism had flared in Aceh province.
“Terrorists find Aceh conducive to expanding their movement. They take advantage of the environment before breaking their silence,” Farouk said in Jakarta as quoted by kompas.com.
However, Farouk did not see any connection between the terrorist group and the former rebel group Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Farouk said he believed the latest terrorist group was linked to a long-standing domestic terror network.
Irwandi, a former GAM leader himself, denied any link between the terror group and GAM.
“GAM, in fact, works with the military and police to hunt terrorists,” said Irwandi.
The incidents, he said, were no excuse to declare martial law in the province.
“Security officers, civilians and suspected terrorists were killed in raids, but imposing martial law in Aceh is out of the question,” he was quoted as saying by kompas.com.
The police had only deployed the Mobile Brigade and the Special Detachment to crack down on the suspected terrorists, he added.
“We haven’t needed to resort to full force,” he said.
