Homeland Security

DATE=04/29/03

TYPE=EDITORIAL

NUMBER=0-10586

TITLE=EDITORIAL: JEMAAH ISLAMIAH ARRESTS

INTERNET=Yes

CONTENT=THIS EDITORIAL IS BEING RELEASED FOR USE BY ALL SERVICES.

Anncr: Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government:

Voice: U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell says Indonesia is striking hard at an al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist group Jemaah Islamiah [jah-mah is-lah-mee-ah]:

(ACT 1 :22 POWELL - DALET: POLICY/EDITORIALS)

"Indonesia. . . finally awakened to the threat of terrorism within its own borders . . . and has arrested many of the perpetrators of the terrible Bali bombing and brought to justice the leader of one of the terrorist organizations that claimed responsibility. All of the ASEAN [ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS] and others joined us in asking the United Nations to designate that group, Jemaah Islamiah, as a terrorist organization." (END ACT)

Indonesian authorities recently arrested eighteen suspected members of Jemaah Islamiah, including Abu Rusdan [ah-boo ROOS-dahn], acting spiritual leader for the terrorist group. Another one of those arrested is Nasir Abbas [nah-SEER AH-bahs], a Malaysian citizen believed to be commander of the so-called Mantiqi [MAWN-tee-kee] 3 terrorist training cell. Mantiqi 3 refers to a cell covering the Philippines, Brunei, east Malaysia, and Kalimantan [kow-lee MAWN-tan] and Sulawesi [soo-lah-weh-see] in Indonesia. The cell was based at Camp Abubakar [ah-boo bah-kahr], the main camp of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the southern Philippines. Philippine troops captured Camp Abubakar in 2000. The Jemaah Islamiah training cell shifted many of its activities to Indonesia.

At least three of the eighteen suspects are believed to have participated in the terrorist car bombings in Bali that killed some two hundred people in October 2002. In November 2002 Indonesian authorities captured an accused organizer of the Bali attack, Imam Samudra [sah-mood-rah]. Authorities also arrested the then-spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Bakar Bashir [ah-boo bah-kar bah-sheer], who is currently on trial facing charges of treason.

Jemaah Islamiah seeks to impose by force a radical Islamic state on the people of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the southern Philippines. It is part of the international terrorist network led by al Qaida that threatens people everywhere. By bringing Jemaah Islamiah terrorists to justice, Indonesia is making the world safer.

Anncr: That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States Government. If you have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A, Washington, D-C, 20237, U-S-A. You may also comment at www-dot-voanews-dot-com-slash-editorials, or fax us at (202) 619-1043.