Ulemas: Don’t Link Arrested Terror Suspect To Aceh

Banda Aceh, ( Berita ) :  Chairman of the Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), Aceh Chapter, Tgk.Faisal Ali called on the police not to link the capture of terror suspects to Aceh Province. “None of the groups in Aceh are terrorists. We are deeply concerned with the fact that the arrest of terror suspects is often linked by the police to Aceh,” he said here Thursday.

Speaking to newsmen in response to the arrest of noted Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Baa’syir for alleged involvement in the training of terrorists in Aceh, he said, ordinary Acehnese had nothing to do with them. Fasil Ali, who is also secretary general of the Acehnese Ulemas Association (HUDA), said ulemas here had agreed that law should imposed on those involved in the acts of terrorism.

However, their presence should not always be linked to Aceh, because the people of Aceh had nothing to do with them. Instead, they had regained a peaceful life since the signing of the Helsinki Peace Accord in 2005 following the long armed conflict.

“Aceh has ever had an inconducive situation following the  prolonged armed conflict. But, in the history of Aceh, the province has never supported acts of terrorism,” Faisal Ali said.

In connection with the arrest of Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, he said it should not be linked to Aceh because none of the groups in Aceh sympathized the terrorists.

He said a group of people had military training in Aceh as recently revealed by the police but those involved came from outside the province.

“The fact is that outsiders used Aceh as their training ground. We are deeply concerned with public opinion that the arrest of every terror suspect is often linked to Aceh.” “In fact, Aceh is only the victim of outsiders,” he said.

Despite the death of nine-year-long wanted terrorist Noordin M.Top of Malaysia in September 2009, the Indonesian police have not relaxed their war on terror.

Last March, the police’s Densus 88 anti-terror unit launched an intensive offensive and sweeping operations in Aceh Province and Pamulang sub-district, Tangerang district , Banten Province.

Highly-wanted terrorist, Dulmatin, along with some other terror suspects were killed in police operations.

Dulmatin himself was shot dead in a raid on an Internet outlet in Pamulang.

About the presence of terror suspects in Aceh, Governor Irwandi Yusuf said they wanted to make Aceh their base of struggle in Southeast Asia.

Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba’asyir himself was arrested on Monday (August 9, 2010) for allegedly knowing, supporting and receiving reports about preparations for terrorist attacks.

Police said Abu Bakar Baasyir was believed to have received reports routinely about terrorist plans for bombing attacks in Indonesia.

Indonesia has been fighting terrorist cells in the country since the 2002 Bali bombings that claimed 202 lives, including 88 Australian holiday makers.

Two years before the terrorists attacked the resort island of Bali, Indonesia was rocked by the Christmas eve bombings in 2000. The latest deadly incident happened on July 17, 2009 when two suicide bombers attacked the JW Marriott and the Ritz-Carlton hotels in South Jakarta. (ant )