Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08JAKARTA1298
2008-07-03 06:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
INDONESIAN POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED JI MEMBERS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO8961 OO RUEHCHI RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #1298 1850639 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030639Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9459 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2719 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1098 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1059 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1967 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2178 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 2802 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 2780 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH 0932 RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001298
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, DS/ICI/RFJ,
DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SC,
DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ
DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANNALEXANDRE, BERMAN
DOJ/CTS FOR MULANEY, ST.HILLARE
FBI FOR ITOSI, SSA SOLOMAN
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PREL ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED JI MEMBERS IN
SUMATRA
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 001298
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, DS/ICI/RFJ,
DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SC,
DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ
DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANNALEXANDRE, BERMAN
DOJ/CTS FOR MULANEY, ST.HILLARE
FBI FOR ITOSI, SSA SOLOMAN
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PREL ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED JI MEMBERS IN
SUMATRA
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
2. (C) SUMMARY: On July 2, an Indonesian National Police
counterterrorist unit raided a house in South Sumatra and
arrested at least nine suspected Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)
terrorists. During the raid, the police also seized several
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Media reports claim
that the apparent JI cell was planning attacks in Sumatra.
The investigation continues, but the GOI appears to have
further eroded the capabilities of JI. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) POLICE OPERATION: In the early morning hours of July
2, a police counterterrorist unit raided a house in
Palembang, South Sumatra. (Note: Palembang is a large city
with a mixed population located approximately 250 miles
northwest of Jakarta.) During the operation, Special
Detachment 88 (SD-88) police arrested at least nine JI-linked
suspects and discovered 22 IEDs, sources told Consulate
Medan. Media reports cite a senior INP official as claiming
that at least one of the IEDs weighed 11 pounds. The
suspects have been reportedly transferred to Jakarta.
4. (C) ACTING ON INTEL REPORTS: The police acted on
intelligence reports that a Singaporean national who was
allegedly a JI associate was living near Palembang. SD-88
surveilled the individual on June 29 and arrested him later
that day. The suspect is believed to be a senior member of
JI in the Palembang region with links to other JI figures.
He is also thought by police to have met with Al-Qaida
elements in Afghanistan. (Note: The suspect is variously
referred to in the press as "Alim" or "Omar.")
5. (C) The INP--based on what we understand--had been
surveilling for over a year a JI "Palembang cell" to which
the above suspect allegedly belonged. The police had
information that the cell was gathering materials to make
IEDs, but the counterterrorist unit was waiting for more
evidence of terrorist-related activity before making any
arrests. The sudden arrest of the Singaporean national
forced the INP to raid the cell's safehouse immediately.
(Note: As it happens, the safehouse was located directly
behind the compound of the local military commander's
office.)
6. (C) ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE CAP?: Media reports claim
that the apparent JI group was planning attacks in Sumatra.
The investigation continues, but the GOI appears to have
further eroded the capabilities of JI.
7. (C) A recent report by an Australian think-tank, the
Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI),had questioned
the GOI's determination to continue pursuing terrorists as it
had in the past, suggesting that a mood of complacency was
setting in. The intense surveillance effort and successful
operation indicate in concrete terms that the GOI is still
aggressively pursuing a counter-terrorist agenda. That said,
what has been caught in the SD-88 net needs to be further
sifted to find out just how important it is.
HUME
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, S/CT, DS/ICI/RFJ,
DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/CC, DS/IP/SC,
DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ
DOJ/OPDAT FOR LEHMANNALEXANDRE, BERMAN
DOJ/CTS FOR MULANEY, ST.HILLARE
FBI FOR ITOSI, SSA SOLOMAN
NSC FOR E.PHU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PREL ID
SUBJECT: INDONESIAN POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED JI MEMBERS IN
SUMATRA
Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4 (b+d).
1. (U) This message was coordinated with Consulate Medan.
2. (C) SUMMARY: On July 2, an Indonesian National Police
counterterrorist unit raided a house in South Sumatra and
arrested at least nine suspected Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)
terrorists. During the raid, the police also seized several
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Media reports claim
that the apparent JI cell was planning attacks in Sumatra.
The investigation continues, but the GOI appears to have
further eroded the capabilities of JI. END SUMMARY.
3. (C) POLICE OPERATION: In the early morning hours of July
2, a police counterterrorist unit raided a house in
Palembang, South Sumatra. (Note: Palembang is a large city
with a mixed population located approximately 250 miles
northwest of Jakarta.) During the operation, Special
Detachment 88 (SD-88) police arrested at least nine JI-linked
suspects and discovered 22 IEDs, sources told Consulate
Medan. Media reports cite a senior INP official as claiming
that at least one of the IEDs weighed 11 pounds. The
suspects have been reportedly transferred to Jakarta.
4. (C) ACTING ON INTEL REPORTS: The police acted on
intelligence reports that a Singaporean national who was
allegedly a JI associate was living near Palembang. SD-88
surveilled the individual on June 29 and arrested him later
that day. The suspect is believed to be a senior member of
JI in the Palembang region with links to other JI figures.
He is also thought by police to have met with Al-Qaida
elements in Afghanistan. (Note: The suspect is variously
referred to in the press as "Alim" or "Omar.")
5. (C) The INP--based on what we understand--had been
surveilling for over a year a JI "Palembang cell" to which
the above suspect allegedly belonged. The police had
information that the cell was gathering materials to make
IEDs, but the counterterrorist unit was waiting for more
evidence of terrorist-related activity before making any
arrests. The sudden arrest of the Singaporean national
forced the INP to raid the cell's safehouse immediately.
(Note: As it happens, the safehouse was located directly
behind the compound of the local military commander's
office.)
6. (C) ANOTHER FEATHER IN THE CAP?: Media reports claim
that the apparent JI group was planning attacks in Sumatra.
The investigation continues, but the GOI appears to have
further eroded the capabilities of JI.
7. (C) A recent report by an Australian think-tank, the
Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI),had questioned
the GOI's determination to continue pursuing terrorists as it
had in the past, suggesting that a mood of complacency was
setting in. The intense surveillance effort and successful
operation indicate in concrete terms that the GOI is still
aggressively pursuing a counter-terrorist agenda. That said,
what has been caught in the SD-88 net needs to be further
sifted to find out just how important it is.
HUME