[Kabar-indonesia] Five more JI members detained in Singapore

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Straits Times (Singapore) 
Saturday, July 1, 2006

Five more JI members detained

They include leader of S'pore network Mas Selamat
Kastari; 5 other detainees freed

Peh Shing Huei

THE leader of Jemaah Islamiah's (JI) Singapore
network, Mas Selamat Kastari, has been detained here
under the Internal Security Act, along with four other
members of the terrorist organisation.

They were served detention orders between March and
May this year, a sign of ongoing operations by the
Internal Security Department against the group with
regional links and ties to Al-Qaeda.

News of the latest detentions by the Home Affairs
Ministry came coupled with an announcement that five
other JI detainees were released yesterday. This means
there are a total of 36 people now detained under the
ISA for involvement in terrorist activities.

There are 19 others on restriction orders, which
require them, among other things, to get official
approval before changing jobs or going abroad; and
another five on suspension orders - meaning they must
comply with certain restrictions or risk being
detained again.

The Home Affairs Ministry statement yesterday said the
five new detainees are Mas Selamat, 45; Singaporean
brothers Muhamad Ismail Anuwarul, 46, Abdul Nassir
Anwarul, 44, and Abdul Rashid Anwarul, 34; and Mohamed
Rashid Zainal Abidin, 46.

The biggest catch would be Mas Selamat, who was
arrested by Indonesian authorities on Bintan island
three years ago.

He fled Singapore in December 2001 after the first JI
arrests here.

Mas Selamat was involved in JI's plans to mount
attacks against foreign and local establishments here.
The hit-list included the United States Embassy and
American Club, the Defence Ministry headquarters at
Bukit Gombak and the Education Ministry building at
North Buona Vista Drive.

His role included directing Singapore JI members to
undertake reconnaissance of these establishments and
handing over reconnaissance material to JI operational
leaders based in Malaysia.

After he fled Singapore, he continued to target the
country - specifically plotting to hijack an aircraft
to crash into Changi Airport.

The ministry said that when his initial attempt was
thwarted, he continued to believe in the feasibility
of the plan and intended to pursue it in the future
when the opportunity presented itself.

Previous media reports said he was handed over in
February after serving time in two Indonesian jails
for immigration offences.

Yesterday's statement said he was arrested and
detained here under the ISA in March.

The three brothers were also detained in March, while
Mohamed Rashid was the latest to be detained - in May.

The ministry described Mohamed Rashid, who underwent
military training in Mindanao, as a member of Mas
Selamat's group that fled Singapore.

He was also involved in the hijack plan.

Brothers Abdul Nassir and Muhamad Ismail underwent
military training in Mindanao and Afghanistan,
respectively, the ministry said. Both were detained
with sibling Abdul Rashid in March.

The detainees released were Azman Jalani, 42; Faiz
Abdullah Ashiblie, 41; Habibullah Hameed, 49; Zulkifli
Mohamed Jaffar, 46; and Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, 44.

The ministry said they cooperated in investigations
and responded positively to rehabilitation, including
religious rehabilitation.

'They are assessed to no longer pose a security threat
to Singapore,' the statement said.

Analyst Sidney Jones, a specialist on terror networks,
said yesterday there was nothing to fear from the
release of the five JI members.

'I don't believe the Singapore Government would
release anyone unless it is convinced beyond a shadow
of a doubt that he is no longer a threat,' she said.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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