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Last Uighur member of MIT shot dead
Operation Tinombala personnel shot dead a Chinese Uighur who was a member of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group on Wednesday, further reducing the group’s numbers following the death of its leader Santoso.
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Police guard two caskets at Bhayangkara Hospital in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on July 19. Authorities confirmed that Santoso, aka Abu Wardah — the notorious leader of the East Indonesia Mujahidin terrorist group — was shot dead by Operation Tinombala personnel on Mount Tambarana in Poso. (Antara Foto/Fiqman Sunandar)
peration Tinombala personnel shot dead a Chinese Uighur who was a member of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group on Wednesday, further reducing the group’s numbers following the death of its leader Santoso.
Task force personnel shot the man, identified as Ibrohim, in Padopi forest in North Poso Pesisir subdistrict, Poso, Central Sulawesi, around 8:30 a.m., Operation Tinombala chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said on Wednesday.
The terrorist was said to be visiting a nearby village with another MIT member to look for food.
Operation Tinombala members warned the two unknown men, asking them to use a code word for the operation. However, the men instead threw small homemade bombs at the security personnel, which prompted them to open fire.
"The dead man was Ibrohim while the other one escaped carrying a rifle. All Chinese Uighurs have been shot dead by security personnel," said Rudy, who is also Central Sulawesi Police chief.
Ibrohim was the last Uighur in the group. Ten Uighurs initially joined MIT leader Santoso, aka Abu Wardah, as guerillas hiding in the mountainous forests of Poso, according to police records. The foreigners traveled via Cambodia to Thailand, where they obtained fake passports. They then went to Kuala Lumpur before flying on to Makassar, South Sulawesi. From Makassar, the Chinese Uighurs traveled overland to Poso, Rusi explained.
Operation Tinombala personnel killed Santoso on July 18 after an intensive search operation. Fourteen members of the group are believed to be still hiding in the forest. Rudy urged the remaining members to give themselves up to the authorities. (rin)
