Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09JAKARTA1587
2009-09-23 10:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
WITH DEATH OF KEY TERRORIST CONFIRMED, POLICE
how-toVZCZCXRO2209 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHJA #1587/01 2661042 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231042Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3381 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/DHS WASHINGTON DC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHHJJPI/USPACOM HONOLULU HI
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).
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
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