military of Indonesia has been fighting against a guerrilla war with radical Muslims in Sulawesi for years. The authorities say they close in on the group leader.
What most people know is that the Sulawesi island has breathtaking sites and a wealth of natural wonders. What they are less likely to know is that the island is also part of a long guerrilla war between the Indonesian army and a group of radical Muslims.
Skirmishes involving shootings, bombings and kidnappings have been ongoing for over five years in the Poso region of Sulawesi.
Santoso (middle) threatening the police through a YouTube video
Now, in the center of the struggle is a man named Santoso, fugitive the most wanted terrorist in Indonesia, and most high-profile supporter of the country's Islamic movement State (IS).
"It is important symbolically as the only" commander "who is actively engaged in a jihad on Indonesian soil," said Sidney Jones, director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, in an interview with Indonesia Expat . "He was able to provide a rudimentary military training to more than 100 would-be terrorists between 2011 and 2014."
Santoso himself calls the "chief the army of the SI in Indonesia, "as he was one of the first Indonesians to declare allegiance to the Caliphate in early July 2014. However, his interest in ISIS is less ideological than instrumental. Santoso believes have the link to iS the movement will make him more men and money for his home-grown terrorist group, Mujahidin Indonesia Timur (MIT), which has become something of an umbrella group for most local activists to rally behind in Indonesia.
The group is believed to be behind several attacks against police officers in Poso and other parts of Central Sulawesi in recent years. While terrorism experts say MIT is still some time away from becoming an organized group, its connections and Santoso extremist aspirations are troubling to the authorities, with the number of victims increases.
"The number of people that he or his men were killed in this period is probably about 20, most of them police," said Jones.
Recognizing the potential threat of MIT target for the US group last September with sanctions over its alleged links to the iS. last Tuesday, the US State Department Santoso added to its list of specially designated global terrorists, freezing US assets that could have, unless any US citizen to become affiliated with it.
"As a result of this designation, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Santoso's interest is blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with Santoso, "the US government said in a statement.
the inclusion on the list Santoso allows US officials of application of the law to take action if necessary, and it partners with their Indonesian counterparts to disrupt the operation of Santoso. The United States says the designation allows "a coordinated effort within the US government and with our international partners to disrupt terrorist activities, including denying them access to the US financial system and the US allowing measurements of law enforcement. "
in response to the initiative of Washington, Indonesia, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Arrmanatha Nasir said the United States the right to its assessment of Poso terrorist, indicating the interest of archipelago to see Santoso justice.
"Our national police were serious in their pursuit and detention of terrorist suspects in Indonesia hunting [for terrorists] began long before [the label] and will continue to be pursued," Nasir said the media.
Nasir added that Jakarta will still need to verify the mechanisms of the US State Department for labeling Santoso as a global threat, but he was sure that the decision was right.
The manhunt for Santoso and his disciples is still ongoing, with at least 2,500 military personnel and national police deployed since January. Chief of the National Police General Badrodin Haiti claims the target, believed to be hiding in the forests of Poso, is within reach.
"His arrest is only a matter of time," Haiti recently said The Jakarta Post , adding that the number of soldiers is sufficient, and strategies are appropriate to deal with the guerrilla Santoso. However, the police chief said trouble stopping Santoso is in the geographical challenges. He said: "We have also been hampered by the weather because it rains every day there"
He added that the manhunt is also a race against time, as Santoso. could gain more followers in the near future. at present, the national Police said Santoso has only about 38 followers. Haiti says several recent arrests could lead the group to bring on new people. "many followers Santoso were arrested, "he said." it is likely that the group will recruit new members. "
According to Jones, Santoso was able to recruit several Uighurs (people the indigenous Muslim north -west China) to support his movement "the most interesting thing about the operation is the fact that many Uighurs joined him. the result of an agreement between the Indonesians to fight with ISIS in Syria and Uighurs, they apparently met there. The agreement was to try to divert some thousands of Xinjiang Uighurs fleeing across Southeast Asia (they all want to go to Turkey to Malaysia) to Poso to strengthen Santoso staff, "said Jones.
So far, six Uighurs joined Santoso. Two of them, and Mus'ab Magalasi Faruq, were killed in a shooting in Poso in mid-March. Police recently put four Chinese Uighurs on their last most wanted list after determining that they had joined the MIT.
chief BrigCentral Sulawesi Police. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said the manhunt has succeeded in cornering Santoso and his group. He says the group is declining in number after the army killed and arrested several of its key members. Reports also suggest the group is short of supplies.
Sufahriadi said the joint operation has intensified its search for the group's hideout in Poso forests, focusing on research Napu Valley, a location about three hours from the provincial capital of Palu. During the manhunt that began in January, the sought Mountain Torire leaders in the sub-district and Lore Peore Talabose Mountain Lore in the Central sub-district.
Although Santoso and the arrest of its affiliates may indeed be a matter of time, Jones believes the MIT group poses no greater threat to Indonesia as other militant groups.
"The guerrillas pose no [immediate] threat to Indonesia [in general], and if the police managed to stop Santoso tomorrow, it would not significantly reduce the risk of terrorism," said Jones. According to her, people should be more concerned about other local leaders ISIS.
She adds: "More terrorist attacks in Indonesia are likely, as local leaders ISIS competition at home and abroad to establish their supremacy. In particular, an Indonesian based trio with ISIS in Syria - Bahrumsyah (alias Abu Ibrahim) Mubarok Salim (aka Abu Jandal), and Bahrun Naim - are competing with each other to encourage their contacts in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines undertake attacks against the enemies of the self-proclaimed caliphate. "