COUNTERTERRORISM -- GOI ARRESTS JI-LINKED SUSPECTS

S E C R E T JAKARTA 001112

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS
NSC FOR E. PHU

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC ID
SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM -- GOI ARRESTS JI-LINKED SUSPECTS

REF: JAKARTA 643 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, for reasons 1.4 (b+d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesian National Police counterterrorism
units recently arrested several suspected terrorists in
Central Java and one in Sumatra. The GOI has publicly
confirmed three arrests, though there may have been more.
Those arrested include two Singaporean nationals plus an
Indonesian who is alleged to be an Afghanistan-trained member
of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) with connections to wanted fugitive
Noordin M. Top. The latest operations underscore the GOI's
impressive counterterrorism track record--and also the fact
that threats remain. END SUMMARY.

CENTRAL JAVA ARRESTS


2. (C) Indonesia has netted more arrests of alleged
terrorists. Indonesian police arrested a suspect with
connections to Noordin M. Top, Indonesia's most wanted JI
fugitive, on June 21. Syaifuddin Zuhri (alias "Sabit," alias
"Sugeng") was arrested in his home in Cilacap, Central Java.
Syaifuddin is allegedly an Afghanistan-trained member of JI
who reportedly at one point housed Top.


3. (C) In addition, according to police reports, Syaifuddin
supplied a gun to the Palembang militant group responsible
for killing a Protestant pastor in 2007 and planning an
attack on Western-style cafes in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.
Syaifuddin, with his apparent connections to Noordin Top,
allegedly played an important role in radicalizing the
"Palembang group" of ten militants arrested in July 2008 and
sentenced in April (reftel). His arrest may be a result of
information obtained from the arrested members of this group
and could lead to further operations regarding key fugitives
(see more below).

GOI PICKS UP SINGAPOREANS


4. (C) Also on June 21 in Solo, Central Java, police
arrested Husaeni (one name only),an alleged JI member of
Singaporean nationality. Husaeni was reportedly the last
member of a group of Singaporean extremists who fled to
Indonesia via Medan, Sumatra, in early 2002, according to
International Crisis Group's Sidney Jones. The Singaporean
group included Mas Slamet Kastari, who was recently arrested
in Malaysia after escaping from prison in Singapore. During
the June 21 operation, police also arrested Husaini's wife
and son, according to press reports.


5. (U) On June 25, Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri
confirmed to the press that the police had also arrested a
second Singaporean named Samad bin Subari (alias "Syamsul
Anwar") in Lampung, Sumatra. Unconfirmed press accounts
report that police made a total of six arrests, including
five Singaporean nationals, but the GOI has not confirmed
this.

MORE TO COME?


6. (S) Police Chief Danuri also told reporters that he
personally hoped the recent arrests would lead to "a big
catch." By this, he meant the arrest of Noordin Top, the
most senior member of JI who is still on the run.
Headquarters police officers sent to Central Java for the
arrests confirmed to us that they expected further arrests
down the road. The latest operations underscore the GOI's
impressive counterterrorism track record--and also the fact
that threats remain.

HUME