Hopes Java arrest may lead to 'big fish'

Source:SMH

ADAM GARTRELL, INDONESIA CORRESPONDENT

May 13, 2010 - 8:59PM
AAP
There are hopes an Islamic militant arrested in Java this week could lead authorities to some of Indonesian terrorism's "big fish".
Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group (ICG) says the arrest this week of Sibgho - also known as Musab - could prove to be a major breakthrough.
"He is a key individual," Dr Jones told AAP
"He is probably the most important of those arrested alive, as far as we know."
Sibgho is an Islamic scholar who has fought in religious conflicts in Indonesia's Ambon and Poso.
It is believed he helped Bali bomber Dulmatin - killed in a police raid earlier this year - set up a new terrorist group that draws on militants from a number of radical groups.
It is hoped Sibgho may have information on the whereabouts of significant members of the group, such as Abdullah Sunata and Umar Patek, the only member of the Bali bombing cell still at large.
Patek was deputy field commander for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
Sigbho was one of several suspected militants arrested in a string of police raids in Java this week.
Police also killed five suspects, including Philippines-trained Indonesian militants Saptono and Maulana.
Saptono was the brother of Kang Jaja, the founder of the Ring Banten militant group that cooperated with Jemaah Islamiah on the first Bali bombings.
Saptono also worked on the 2004 Australian embassy bombing with Noordin Mohammed Top, who led a violent JI splinter cell until he too was shot dead by police last year.
Saptono was also the uncle of Iwan Dharmawan, alias Rois, who is currently on Indonesia's death row for the embassy bombing.
Dr Jones said Saptono and Maulana were "fairly significant" players and expressed disappointment police failed to capture them alive.
"There are too many people getting killed rather than arrested," she said.
"There needs to be some serious questions asked about tactics being used."
Indonesian police are expected to announce on Friday the identities of about a dozen suspected militants it arrested in raids last week.
© 2010 AAP