A Christmas present for FID proponents.
Indonesia's crack CT unit does it again. Indo, the world's third largest democracy after the US and India, is home to an 86% Sunni Muslim-majority population. They do not tolerate extremists. We could use a few more partners like this.
At 0500 on 24 December, members of Indonesia police counter-terrorist unit, Special Detachment 88, arrested Baridin, the father-in-law of the late Jemmah Islamiyah bomber
Noordin Top. Top had married Baridin's daughter in Cilacap, Central Java, during 2006, and Baridin had helped hide his fugitive son-in-law for extended periods of time through the middle of this year. In June, Baridin fled Cilacap as the police learned of his connection to Top; in hindsight, this was one month before Top conducted a pair of hotel bombings in Jakarta.
From Cilacap, Baridin apparently took shelter in Garut district, West Java province, where he acted as a traveling sugar salesman. When he was captured he had a pair of identity cards under aliases. Although Baridin was not known as an expert in explosives or recruiting, his arrest does demonstrate that the Indonesian authorities remain on heightened alert during the year-end holiday season.
Earlier this week, in fact, the newly-promoted head of Special Detachment 88, General Tito Karnavian, stated that there was evidence that the remnants of Jemaah Islamiyah are still attempting to recruit new members despite some of their most aggressive leaders getting killed over the past quarter.
Most will remember . . .
Noordin Top, who was killed in a bloody raid by police in September in Central Java, is believed to have masterminded the July suicide bombings of Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels. Seven people were killed.
The 41-year old Malaysian was also blamed for a 2003 attack on the Marriott that killed 12 people, as well as the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta and 2005 attacks on tourist restaurants on Bali.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...026847/1/.html
http://counterterrorismblog.org/2009..._indonesia.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detachment_88
Some issues with rule of law, but overall a real success story. AT/CT assistance from Australia and US.
"There is a suspicion that police have been simply killing the suspects to dispense with the headaches of long and perhaps theatrical trials. But Detachment 88's reluctance to engage the militants at close quarters probably stems from the fact that it has insufficient teargas and stun grenades and, more importantly, the advanced training to use them effectively. "
Link to a good analysis of D-88's use of force and healthy debate regarding civilian v. military tactics in the country's strategy to combat terrorism.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southea.../KJ31Ae01.html
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