Fears of attacks mount ahead of summits
BANGKOK - Fears of fresh attacks by South-east Asia's Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network mounted yesterday ahead of the first anniversary of the Oct 12 Bali bombings and two major regional summits next month.
Thailand, due to host 21 Asia-Pacific leaders in Bangkok, including US President George W. Bush, has already stepped up security. However, this may not be enough to alleviate concern that the country is a soft target.
Indonesia will host a summit of the 10-member Asean next month on Bali, with regional security expected to be on the agenda.
Despite the capture of several high-profile Islamic militants in the region, including Hambali, the reputed JI operations chief believed to be Al-Qaeda's top man in South-east Asia, analysts say the risk of attacks is high.
'There are still explosives out there,' said Mr Steve Wilford, South-east Asia analyst at Control Risks Group.
'We know that JI people are still at large and they know how to construct bombs,' he told Reuters. 'Something is going to go off. It's a question of when rather than if.'
Citing the risk of fresh attacks, Australia told its people yesterday to stay away from Indonesia around next month's anniversary of the Bali nightclub blasts which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a travel advisory: 'Jemaah Islamiah continues to have the capability and intent to mount attacks in the region.
'The threat extends beyond the formal commemorative venues and events.'
Indonesian police said the threats were real, but there was no connection yet to the Bali anniversary.
'What we know is that there are bombing plans and we will use all of our efforts to thwart them,' said police spokesman Zainuri Lubis.
South-east Asian security chiefs conceded earlier this month that they needed to boost their often patchy cooperation in the terror fight.
Hambali's arrest was hailed as an example of the kind of shared security and intelligence work the region needed.
But it also raises fears that Asia's Muslim militants are at work in the country, where leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will gather for an Oct 19-21 summit. -- Reuters
BANGKOK - Fears of fresh attacks by South-east Asia's Al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network mounted yesterday ahead of the first anniversary of the Oct 12 Bali bombings and two major regional summits next month.
Thailand, due to host 21 Asia-Pacific leaders in Bangkok, including US President George W. Bush, has already stepped up security. However, this may not be enough to alleviate concern that the country is a soft target.
Indonesia will host a summit of the 10-member Asean next month on Bali, with regional security expected to be on the agenda.
Despite the capture of several high-profile Islamic militants in the region, including Hambali, the reputed JI operations chief believed to be Al-Qaeda's top man in South-east Asia, analysts say the risk of attacks is high.
'There are still explosives out there,' said Mr Steve Wilford, South-east Asia analyst at Control Risks Group.
'We know that JI people are still at large and they know how to construct bombs,' he told Reuters. 'Something is going to go off. It's a question of when rather than if.'
Citing the risk of fresh attacks, Australia told its people yesterday to stay away from Indonesia around next month's anniversary of the Bali nightclub blasts which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a travel advisory: 'Jemaah Islamiah continues to have the capability and intent to mount attacks in the region.
'The threat extends beyond the formal commemorative venues and events.'
Indonesian police said the threats were real, but there was no connection yet to the Bali anniversary.
'What we know is that there are bombing plans and we will use all of our efforts to thwart them,' said police spokesman Zainuri Lubis.
South-east Asian security chiefs conceded earlier this month that they needed to boost their often patchy cooperation in the terror fight.
Hambali's arrest was hailed as an example of the kind of shared security and intelligence work the region needed.
But it also raises fears that Asia's Muslim militants are at work in the country, where leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum will gather for an Oct 19-21 summit. -- Reuters
posted by Casey Britton | 10:06 PM
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