Terrorism commentators are divided over the recent arrest of terror suspects in Aceh, with one saying the suspects were linked to Noordin M. Top and another claiming they may not be terrorists at all.

Intelligence expert Dynno Chressbon said he believed the men arrested by Aceh Police last week were linked to Noordin's group. Noordin was killed in a police raid in Kepuh Sari, Solo, last September.

Grouped under the Aceh Islamic Republic (RIA), he added, the group shared a role in the Christmas Eve bombings in North Sumatra in 2000 and in the Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta in 2004.

"This group has a close relationship with Noordin M. Top. And since Noordin is dead, it continues to be supported by separatist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf from the Philippines and the non-territorial Indonesia Islamic State *NII* organization," he said.

He said the group was also connected to another hardline group calling itself the Jundullah Troop, based in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

"Together, these organizations conduct military training to provide prepared and activated people for future action," he said.

Dynno said these organizations all aimed to establish an Islamic caliphate in the region.

"The struggle against terrorism in this case is far from over as these terrorists would never give up before they establish an Islamic state *in Indonesia*," he said.

Terrorism analyst Sidney Jones, however, said Saturday the suspects arrested in Aceh, were not necessarily terrorists as claimed by police.

"It is too early to say they are terrorists. I believe the chances are small that they are connected to Jamaah Islamiyah," Jones was quoted as saying by news portal detik.com.

She said Aceh was known for its immunity to such terrorist activity. "We need to wait for the investigation result," she said.

Last week, Aceh Police arrested five men in Jantho, the capital of Aceh Besar regency, 60 kilometers from Banda Aceh. The police said the men were involved in military training in a nearby forest.

A civilian was killed and another injured by police fire during the arrest. The police mistook them for suspects because both carried fishing rods that, in the dark, looked like rifles, the police were reported as saying by Antara news agency.

Prior to this, five other men were arrested, two of whom were from Pandeglang, Banten. The men were suspected to have been involved in terrorist activity linked to Noordin's group.


3rd March 2010

Source: The Jakarta Post