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Operation Tinombala reviewed as Santoso remains at large
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In progress – National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti meets with Operation Tinombala security personnel in Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Friday. He said the operation to pursue the East Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) terrorist group leader, Santoso alias Abu Wardah, had made progress although the terrorist leader had not yet been arrested. (thejakartapost.com/Ruslan Sangadji)
T
he operation launched to pursue terrorist group Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) is under review as until now their leader, Indonesia’s most-wanted man Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, remains at large.
National Police chief Gen.Badrodin Haiti said Santoso and his men had thus far been able to evade capture, and therefore changes in security force deployment as part of Operation Tinombala were necessary. However, he refused to give more details about the changes, saying it was a covert operation.
“What I can assure you, is that there will be no increase in personnel. There are around 3,000 National Police and Indonesian Military personnel deployed as part of the operation. This will be maintained,” said Badrodin.
The police chief further said the operation had made good progress despite the fact that Santoso had not yet been arrested, adding that this was not a reflection of any inability on the part of Operation Tinombala personnel.
Badrodin said it was believed the MIT leader was still in Lembah Napu forests as a security personnel cordon had restricted his ability to move to other areas.
Speaking in front of police and military personnel at the taskforce’s tactical command post in Napu, Poso, Badrodin said all police and military personnel involved in Operation Tinombala would receive significant promotions if Santoso was arrested.
“I have discussed about it with the Indonesian Military commander [Gen.Gatot Nurmantyo] and he has agreed,” the police chief said.
Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig.Gen.Rudy Sufahriadi said during the Operation Tinombala, 14 Santoso terrorists were paralyzed, ten of whom were killed in a shootout while the remaining four terrorists were arrested alive. They are Zaenal Effendi from Bogor (West Java), Sahad and Ibaduroham alias Ibad alias Amru from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, and Muhammad Sulaeman alias Sul alias Ifan from Madura, East Java.
“They were arrested when they came to settlements to ask for food from local residents,” said Rudy.
He said that this indicated the group was running of food supplies after security personnel had cut their logistics route and killed their two couriers. (ebf)
