The Chinese government has announced it will help the police in Central Sulawesi identify Chinese citizens from the Uighur ethnic group in Xinjiang province who have infiltrated Indonesia to join the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group led by Santoso in Poso, Central Sulawesi.
Mon, March 28 2016, 8:20 AM
The Chinese government has announced it will help the police in Central Sulawesi identify Chinese citizens from the Uighur ethnic group in Xinjiang province who have infiltrated Indonesia to join the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terror group led by Santoso in Poso, Central Sulawesi.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said they had received notification from the Chinese government regarding the arrival of many Uighurs wishing to join Santoso in Poso.
“The Chinese government has coordinated with us. They wish to assist and even help identify the Uighurs joining Santoso’s group,” Rudy said.
Rudy visited China earlier to coordinate with the Chinese government and traveled to Xinjiang province to observe the conditions of the community there. The social conditions in Xinjiang, he said, were similar to those in Indonesia where militant groups had emerged.
“I’ve been there and the many militant groups there are like Santoso’s group,” he said.
The Uighur militants arrived in Indonesia in response a request from Santoso on YouTube.
Police said they had identified six Uighurs that had joined the MIT group, four of whom were killed during a skirmish with police and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel working together in Operation Tinombala.
Rudy said two other Uighur members, identified as Kohar, alias Malik, and Abdul, had now left. The dead have been identified as Faruk, alias Magalasi Bahtusan, Nuretin, alias Abdul, Joko Uigur, alias Turang Ismail and Sobron, alias Son Haji.
“The remaining Uighurs are currently hiding in the Napu Valley woods in Poso,” said Rudy.
The manhunt for Santoso and his men in Napu Valley, Poso, has intensified of late after the police received information of Santoso’s possible whereabouts in the Wuasa woods. “Troops are now scouring the Wuasa woods and also the Sedoa jungle,” First Sgt. Ali Ramadhan, a TNI soldier from the Raider Infantry Battalion, told The Jakarta Post.
To enter the jungle and Sedoa mountainous region, troops must cross the swift-flowing Sopu River and then pass through farms and woods to arrive at the coordinated spot. The journey by foot takes two days.
The US government has listed Santoso on its list of global terrorists, called Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list, blocking any US assets he might have and barring any American citizen from getting involved with him.
Terrorism expert Al Chaidar said Santoso should be on the SDGT list because he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) movement in 2014.
“The US government should’ve put his name on the list long time ago. He has recruited several seasoned fighters who have been to Afghanistan. He is a dangerous man,” Chaidar said.
Santoso is accused of masterminding a number of killings and kidnappings in Indonesia over the last several years. He has managed to evade capture by Indonesian law enforcement officers in Poso for more than three years.
Operation Tinombala has so far run for three months and around 3,000 personnel from elite TNI and National Police units are involved in the operation, which was earlier located in Poso Pesisir and Parigi Moutong, and has now moved to the Napu Valley area. The operation has been extended for another six months because of the harsh terrain in the area.
“Santoso and his followers have survived even though they don’t have logistics. They can still hunt. And let’s not forget, Santoso took part in survival training in the Philippines,” Chaidar said. (wnd) –
Leave a Comment