COUNTERTERRORISM -- GOI REAPS MORE SUCCESS AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001716 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP, S/CT, DS/IP/EAP, DS/TIA/ITA NSC FOR J.BADER, D.WALTON DS FOR COMMAND CENTER, FRONT OFFICE KUALA LUMPUR FOR G.CHAPMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER ASEC ID SUBJECT: COUNTERTERRORISM -- GOI REAPS MORE SUCCESS AND PLANS TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE REF: JAKARTA 1713 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: The GOI has confirmed that two well-known terrorists were killed during an October 9 police operation near Jakarta. The two were close associates of terrorist leader Noordin M. Top, who was himself killed in a police operation, September 16-17. With the deaths of the two, the investigation into the July 17 bombings in Jakarta is now basically complete. In light of the high tempo of police operations, the GOI remains concerned re terrorist transit in case suspects try to flee or enter the country to replenish extremist ranks. Despite its impressive record of success, the Indonesian government does not seem overconfident and says it plans to keep up its robust counter-terror pressure. END SUMMARY. CONFIRMING THE DEATHS OF TWO TERRORISTS ¶2. (C) GOI counter-terror operations have reaped more success. On October 12, Indonesian National Police (INP) spokesman Inspector General Nanan Soekarna confirmed the identities of two terror suspects killed October 9 during a police raid on a boarding house in East Ciputat, Tangerang, a suburb of Jakarta (see ref b). Nanan said fingerprint analysis and DNA testing of the two bodies proved the identities and deaths of Saifuddin Jaelani and Mohammad Syahrir. The two were known associates of slain terrorist operative Noordin M. Top, and suspects in the July 17 bombings of the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott Hotels in Jakarta. The two men were brothers. ¶3. (C) The police operation also led to arrests. Nanan confirmed that police detained two people prior to the operation. The first, Fajar Firdaus, is the nephew of Saifuddin and Syahrir and was arrested in Bekasi (an area near Jakarta) on October 9. According to Nanan, police picked up Fajar before the raid and he provided the location of the terrorists' hiding place. The second, Sonny Jayadi, was arrested on October 10 in Padang, West Sumatra, where he was reportedly volunteering as an earthquake relief worker. Sonny is reportedly 24 and a student at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University which is located close to the boarding house where the two terrorists were killed. The boarding house, according to local media, had a number of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah students in residence. NEUTRALIZING JULY 17 PERPETRATORS ¶4. (C) The INP stated on Monday that it has "been able to complete the July 17 bombing investigations" as a result of the killing of the two terrorists on October 9. The police say that basically all oQthe July 17 bombing suspects have been arrested or killed as of this point. Despite the confidence that all leads have been followed, the Indonesian government has pledged to continue to put pressure on extremists whenever and wherever possible. One government official told us that the GOI was "not overconfident and planned to continue its high operational tempo." CONTINUED CONCERNS REGARDING TERROR TRANSIT ¶5. (C) The Indonesian government remains concerned re terrorist transit. Senior Commander Chrysnanda Dwi Laksana told the press on October 11 that the INP is watching for possible infiltration from the Philippines or elsewhere in case Jemmah Islamiyah-linked terrorists try to replenish ranks in Indonesia. Officials are also concerned that terrorists under pressure in Indonesia may try to flee the country. Mission has urged the GOI to maintain its vigilance and to monitor transit routes. Indonesian officials say they have not yet noticed any uptick in suspects using key routes. Pol/C met recently with East Kalimantan Province officials in Indonesian Borneo and stressed the dangers of such transit via neighboring Malaysia and potentially onwards to the Philippines (see reftel). The officials underlined that provincial law enforcement entities continue to focus on JAKARTA 00001716 002 OF 002 security threats in the area. They noted that the GOI maintains close links with Malaysian authorities based in Sabah state through Indonesian consular offices in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. IMPRESSIVE PROGRESS ¶6. (C) The Indonesian government was surprised by the July 17 bombings and took immediate steps to hunt down those responsible. Those steps have reaped huge dividends, most particularly through the slaying of Top and many of his closest associates. Based on our soundings, the GOI clearly realizes the need to keep the pressure on despite the progress. OSIUS