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