peration Tinombala to pursue remnants of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group is scheduled to conclude on Jan. 3, but it is likely that the operation will be extended to April, an official has said.
Operation Tinombala task force chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said his team had prepared evaluation materials and reports to continue the anti-terror operation until nine MIT members, who were still holding out in forests in Poso, Central Sulawesi, would be arrested.
“This operation will end only after all MIT members have been arrested,” Rudy told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
An Operation Tinombala task force member was shot dead when gunfire broke out between anti-terror personnel and suspected MIT members on Tuesday.
Rudy asserted that it was not the incident that had led the task force to extend the operation. It was the target of Operation Tinombala task force to capture all MIT members dead or alive.
“We will change our tactics, strategies and operation patterns,” said Rudy, without giving further details.
Rudy, who is also the Central Sulawesi Police chief, further said there were still many MIT sympathizers in Poso. This could be seen from the presence of many people suspected to be MIT supporters during the burial of the terror group’s members killed in shootout incidents against security personnel in Poso.
“I can guarantee you that MIT still has a lot of sympathizers in Poso,” said Rudy. (ebf)
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.