PUBLIC ENEMIES -- LARGE-SCALE MANHUNT UNDER WAY IN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001303 SIPDIS DEPT OF EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS, CA NSC FOR JBADER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC ID SUBJECT: PUBLIC ENEMIES -- LARGE-SCALE MANHUNT UNDER WAY IN CENTRAL JAVA FOR TERRORISTS REF: JAKARTA 1275 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY: Pol/C visited Central Java, August 3-5. Authorities in the region are conducting a large-scale manhunt for Noordin Top and other terrorists who have been linked to the July 17 bombings in Jakarta. Senior officials and police have held public meetings urging that citizens help apprehend Top and his associates, and the GOI has put up large billboards and other signs urging public cooperation. In discussions in the Solo region, Pol/C underlined international and U.S. support for the GOI's efforts. While not sure whether Top is in Central Java, authorities clearly are pressing their province-wide investigation hard, especially in areas like Solo, Semarang and Cilicap where extremists have been spotted in the past. END SUMMARY. MANHUNT IN CENTRAL JAVA ¶2. (S) There is a large-scale manhunt under way in Central Java Province to apprehend the perpetrators of the July 17 hotel bombings in Jakarta. (Note: Nine people, including two suicide bombers, died in the attacks, which injured dozens at the J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels located in central Jakarta.) Pol/C visited the Solo region of Central Java, an area in which terrorists and other extremists have been known to operate in the past, August 3-5, to discuss the investigation with civil authorities and police officials. (Note: For Mission Emergency Action Committee's latest assessment of the overall situation, please see septel.) ¶3. (S) In Solo, Pol/C noticed a number of large billboards put up at key intersections asking the public for information regarding the whereabouts of Noordin Mohammad Top, the Jemmah Islamiyah (JI) operative who is believed to be behind the attacks. The GOI had also posted numerous signs, complete with photos, asking for information re Top and his associates on public buildings and outdoor market areas. (Note: In a late July blog posting, a group called "Al-Qaida Indonesia" claimed responsibility for the blasts. The blog posting was signed in the name of Noordin Top. Top, a Malaysian national and the most senior JI operative still on the run, has been implicated in various terrorist attacks over the years. See Reftel.) �0A; AUTHORITIES PRESS INVESTIGATION ¶4. (S) Central Java authorities and the police are pressing the investigation hard. The extent of the effort clearly emerged in Pol/C's August 4 meetings with Solo civilian authorities and police. In remarks to Pol/C, Mayor Joko Widodo, the popular Mayor of Solo, and his assistants underscored that they understoodthat Indonesia needed to catch the perpetrators o the July 17 attacks and make sure that all JI-lnked cells are rolled up. Widodo said he has hed several sessions since JJuly 17 with the Solo pubic in his city of about 600,000 residents in ordr to educate them on the threat posed by terroriss and extremists. (Note: Per reftels, Mayor Widdo has had great success in returning law and orer to Solo. Just several years ago, violent Islmic extremists patrolled the streets, meting out batings and threats. Working with the police and lacing a focus on economic opportunities, Widodowas able to stop the violence and dramatically iprove day-to-day life in the city.) ¶5. (S) Police are also working on all cylinders. On August 4, Pol/C met with Solo region Deputy Chief of Police A. Mahendra, Police Chief of Intelligence Jaka Wibawa and Police Intelligence Expert Muchtar (one name only). (Note: Pol/C was supposed to meet the Chief of Police of Solo, but he was called away to participate in a public meeting in Cilicap re the situation--see below.) The officials underlined that they are following up on all leads and reports regarding Top and other terrorists. They noted that Central Java has over 35 million inhabitants, which made the investigation complex and wide-ranging. ¶6. (S) The officials remarked that they have no information as to whether Top is still in the Central Javan region, but will continue to search for him there given the evidence that he has been in the region in the past. (Note: Top, for example, married and fathered two children in Central Java in recent years.) Pol/C underlined international and U.S. JAKARTA 00001303 002 OF 002 support for the GOI's efforts, noting that we had offered to provide assistance to the Indonesian government. The police officials replied that they appreciated solid USG-GOI law enforcement links. GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT IN PUBLIC MEETINGS ¶7. (SBU) As touched on, a noteworthy aspect of the Indonesian government's efforts in Central Java has been the use of public meetings and the media to inform citizens. One such meeting took place in Cilicap region in southwestern Central Java on August 4. (Note: Cilicap, a port city with a population of over one million located across from Indonesia's major maximum security prison on Nusa Kambangan Island, is another region in which terrorists have been known to operate in the past. The police have reportedly been actively following leads in the area related to the July 17 blasts.) ¶8. (SBU) In the public meeting which was featured on TV and radio, Bibit Waluyo, Governor of Central Java, addressed over 2,000 residents, underscoring the importance of the anti-terror effort. Central Java Provincial Police Chief General Bambang Riatmojo told those assembled: "We are determined to capture Noordin M. Top immediately and everyone should support this effort. Should you come across a stranger acting unusually around your house, catch them. If you don't dare (do that),report them to the nearest police office or call me immediately. Should there be any police officials who cannot be contacted, report them to me and I will fire them." ¶9. (SBU) At the close of the Cilicap public meeting, a billboard was inaugurated in the city's public park bearing photos of Noordin Top. In addition to the meetings in Solo and Cilicap, the GOI has arranged public meetings in Semarang, another region where extremists have been known to operate in the past. HUME