"Australia prime target, says SE Asia's most wanted" -- article from The Age

[Matt Holcomb]

Australia prime target, says SE Asia's most wanted



By Mark Forbes, Indonesia Correspondent, Jakarta
November 18, 2005

SOUTH-EAST Asia's most wanted terrorist has warned in a video message seized by Indonesian police that Australia will be the prime target of new "intimidation and terror" attacks while its troops remain in Iraq.

In an apparent copy of al-Qaeda tactics, the video features a masked man believed to be Jemaah Islamiah mastermind Noordin Top urging strikes against Australia and claiming Prime Minister John Howard is leading the nation into tragedy.

The video threat, a first for Jemaah Islamiah, was seized when police raided Noordin's Central Java hide-out 10 days ago, soon after his bomb-making partner, Azahari Husin, was shot dead. Farewell video messages from the three suicide bombers who struck Bali in October were also recovered.

Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla played the videos to Islamic leaders, saying police believed the man issuing the warning was Noordin.

"America, Australia, England and Italy are all our enemies," says the militant. "We especially remind Australia that you, Downer and Howard, are killing Australia, leading it into darkness and tragedy and into mujahideen terror.

"Know that as long as you continue to colonise the land of Iraq and Afghanistan and intimidate Muslims then you, too, will feel our intimidation and terror."

It is unclear when or how the tape was to be distributed, but officials have publicised it to convince Indonesians of the seriousness of the threat.

Ansyaad Mbai, the counter-terrorism chief of Indonesia's Security Ministry, said the video was a propaganda tool to attract new recruits. Australia was singled out because "it is very transparent that Australia is regarded as the major supporter of the United States war in Iraq".

Although JI's targeting of Australia was not new, Brigadier Mbai said the message should be taken seriously.

In Adelaide yesterday, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia must not be intimidated by the threats. Asked if he was sure the man on the tape was actually Noordin Top, Mr Downer said ASIO was still assessing the tape. "But we're obviously taking it seriously.

"Australians do not expect terrorists like Noordin Top to dictate to us our foreign policy or our domestic policy."

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty, in Jakarta for a meeting of regional police chiefs, said the threats emphasised the importance of working collaboratively with Indonesian police.

Indonesia's police chief, General Sutanto, said the region must be on guard for more suicide bombings. "Most of the major bomb blasts in Indonesia have been committed by suicide bombers and this modus operandi may also occur in other ASEAN member countries, as we are not able to find the way to prevent this barbaric action," he told the meeting.

The messages from the suicide bombers, who are believed to have been recruited by Noordin, said they would die for a noble cause and go to heaven. The clerics shown the messages rejected the claims, saying terrorism was against Islam and was forbidden.

Along with Azahari, Noordin is responsible for most major terrorist attacks in Indonesia over the past four years, including the two Bali bombings, the attack on Australia's Jakarta embassy and the Marriott Hotel blast.

With BRENDAN NICHOLSON

[fintstone]

More "modern minutemen" huh Matt?

[RoninLB]

"Australians do not expect terrorists like Noordin Top to dictate to us our foreign policy or our domestic policy."


Australia doesn't seem to have the hugs & kisses bs that the US has from many of it's politicians. That and the fact that the population is experiencing great economic progress and thus support for its gov't should send a message to the murderers to stay the f... away.

Terrorism can't survive without support or apathy from the population.

[Joeaksa]

I was in Malaysia when the bombers were found in Sydney and lots of people there said that they were not surprised. If I were an Aussie I would be looking under rocks now as they do not just have one squad, its usually at least 2 or 3 in case one is popped, as just happened.

Hope that they do not get the chance to do any damage but now is the time to keep your eyes open and call the police if anything seems out of the normal.

JoeA

PS See, I can write an email about your country and not say a bad thing about them. Something that others might learn when talking about the United States. This is a war that we all are in and the sooner we realize it the better.

[Matt Holcomb]

You're right, Joe -- we have to be vigilant, and to a certain extent, paranoid.

But we shouldn't have to be reporting unattended bags near buildings or wondering if all the bearded Muslim men that use public transport are wearing any extra layers of, er, clothing ....

Our fearless and sagacious Prime Minister, John Howard, has made our country a target by supporting Cheney's dubious crusade. I just hope that Howard doesn't leave office without blood on his hands ....

[RoninLB]

Spain figured that ignoring them would work through voter apathy.