WITH DEATH OF KEY TERRORIST CONFIRMED, POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001587 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/TIA/ITA; DS FOR COMMAND CENTER, FRONT OFFICE NSC FOR D.WALTON E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS ASEC ID SUBJECT: WITH DEATH OF KEY TERRORIST CONFIRMED, POLICE CONTINUE FULL-COURT PRESS REF: A. JAKARTA POL - OPS CENTER 09-219-09 EMAIL ¶B. JAKARTA 1581 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Through a six-tissue DNA sample testing process, the GOI has confirmed the death of terrorist leader Noordin M. Top. Top and several associates were killed in a police operation in Central Java, September 16-17. The Indonesian government plans to repatriate the remains to Malaysia, Top's country of origin. Although the death of Top was a major blow to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network, the GOI has pledged to continue the full-court press it launched after the July 17 Jakarta bombings. END SUMMARY. DNA ANALYSIS CONFIRMS TOP'S DEATH ¶2. (SBU) It is confirmed -- the GOI has got its man. Late on September 18, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri announced that DNA tests had confirmed that a body thought to be that of Noordin M. Top's was indeed that of the terrorist leader. Top's remains had initially been identified through fingerprint analysis, but the GOI had sought conclusive proof of Top's death through DNA (see reftel). After he met with President Yudhoyono, Danuri conveyed the results of the six-tissue DNA sample test to the press and public. Noordin Top, 41, a Malaysian national who led a splinter JI cell, was killed along with three other JI members during a nine-hour siege of a safe-house in Solo, Central Java, September 16-17. PLANS TO REPATRIATE REMAINS TO MALAYSIA ¶3. (SBU) The GOI plans to repatriate Top's remains to Malaysia. After the formal DNA report has been sent to the Malaysian Embassy and forwarded to the Malaysian government, the body will be sent to Malaysia where Top's family can claim it. Top was originally radicalized by the Indonesian founders of Jemaah Islamiyah--including extremist preacher Abu Bakar Bashir--who, in exile from the Suharto regime, were running an Islamic school outside of Kuala Lumpur in the 1990's. GOI TO CONTINUE FULL-COURT PRESS ¶4. (C) The death of Noordin Top was a major counterterrorism victory for the GOI. Top was implicated in many terrorist actions over the past several years and was considered a key JI leader and recruiter. A bit of a cult and sense of mystery had surrounded Top who on several occasions had eluded capture by the police through the years, including during a police operation in early August. ¶5. (C) In the wake of Top's demise, the Indonesian National Police have intensified efforts to take down Top's network and arrest others involved in the July 17 bombings in Jakarta. We have spoken to police contacts and more operations are expected down the line. The police are now focused on hunting down Saifuddin Zuhri bin Jaelani Irshad, alias Sabit (brother-in-law of Ibrohim, the former hotel florist implicated in the July 17 bombings and killed in the Central Java raid on August 7-8) and his brother Mohamad Syahrir, a former Garuda Airlines technician. Police have reported that according to documents on Noordin Top's laptop, Saifuddin Zuhri was a recruiter for the July 17 bombings. ¶6. (C) Many counterterrorism experts have speculated on who would take over as leader of Top's JI splinter cell. Former JI member Nasir Abbas told the press he believed Saifuddin Zuhri would take over as leader of Top's Group. International Crisis Group (ICG) Senior Advisor Sidney Jones (Amcit--please protect) speculated that a terrorist named Reno (one name only) may take over the cell's leadership position, although she was quick to say that the JI did not need a formal leadership structure to carry out operations. Head of the Counterterrorism desk at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Social Affairs Ansyaad Mbai thought that Saifuddin or any of the other JI fugitives, Dulmatin, Umar Patek or Upik Lawanga could lead the cell's operations. JAKARTA 00001587 002 OF 002 HUME