T

he National Police said Sunday the manhunt for members of the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group in Poso, Central Sulawesi, would be extended to July 8 because its leader, Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, still remained at large.

Police spokesman Agus Rianto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday the sole rationale for the extension was that the joint-security taskforce, comprising some 2,500 Indonesian Military (TNI) troops and police personnel under Operation Tinombala, had not yet been able “to catch Santoso, the main target”.

“The police will deploy a new strategy to catch Santoso in the next period of the manhunt,” Agus said without going into details.

The police said earlier Operation Tinombala, which is itself an extension of the 2015 Camar Maleo Operation, was due to expire on Sunday, after being extended from an original March deadline, two months after its inauguration on Jan. 10.

The security forces has also released final ultimatum for the group to surrender, vowing that those who surrender would be treated fairly.

The taskforce has secured some of its goals by capturing a number of Santoso’s followers, including two MIT members from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), Muhammad Sulaeman, alias Sul, and Ibadurrohman, alias Ibad, on April 15. Both Muhammad and Ibadurrohman have reportedly assisted the taskforce with information regarding Santoso’s whereabouts.

This has triggered the taskforce to switch the focus of the manhunt from Lembah Napu in the district of Lore Bersaudara to Lore Pesisir Bersaudara, both in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi.

The MIT movement under Santoso has committed numerous killings and kidnappings and has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) movement. The group also consists of experienced militants and well-trained jihadists from other parts of the world, including Uighurs from China who joined the MIT in 2014.

But questions remain over the effectiveness of the taskforce.

Terrorism expert Khairul Fahmi said the extension to July 8 revealed that the taskforce “faces a quagmire in dealing with the MIT”.

“They said before they had blocked logistic supplies as well as entry points from outside Poso. However, Uighurs can still enter our country to join MIT,” Khairul told the Post in a telephone interview.

Khairul, an expert from the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISEES), said both the National Police and the TNI should reconsider the taskforce’s strategy, especially in how to prevent people from joining the MIT.

“These problems have to be resolved one by one. They have to set out a strategy to block people joining the group from some parts of this country, for instance, from Bima, where lots of MIT members originate from. On the other hand, the police and the TNI should use a different strategy to curb foreigners from joining Santoso,” Khairul said.

He added the police and the TNI, apart from re-calibrating the manhunt in Poso, should also supervise the maritime borders with neighboring countries around Sulawesi, as “foreign jihadists can enter our territory by sea”.

Under Operation Tinombala, security personnel have so far arrested six people and killed 11 in armed conflict.

The remaining suspected terrorists include Santoso, alias Abu Wardah, Basri, alias Bagong, Ali Ahmad, alias Ali Kalora, Firdaus, alias Daus, Mukhtar, alias Kahar, Askar, alias Jaid, Adji Pandu Suwotomo, Qatar, alias Farel, Jumri, alias Tamar, Suharyono, alias Yono Sayur, Salman, alias Opik, Samil, alias Nunung, Mohammad Faisal, alias Namnung, Firman, alias Aco, Nae, alias Galuh, Basir, alias Romzi, Andika Eka Putra, alias Anddika, Yazid, alias Taufik, Abu Alim, Syaifullah, alias Ahmad, Sucipto, alias Cipto, Kholid and Ibrohim.

The three suspected female members are Jumiatun Muslim, alias Atun, Nurmi Usman, alias Oma, and Tini Susanti Kaduku, alias Umi Fadel. (mos)
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