Busted MIT members promise to reveal Santoso's whereabouts

From the Jakarta Post, Sunday, April 17 2016


Muhammad Sulaeman alias Sul alias Ifan, a suspected member of the East Indonesia Mujahiddin (MIT) terrorist group led by Indonesia’s most wanted man Santoso alias Abu Wardah, has promised to reveal all information he has on the whereabouts of his leader.

“Sir, I’m hungry. Please give me some food, then I will give all the information I have about Santoso,” said the teenaged MIT member from Madura, East Java, when he was about to be interrogated by the Poso Police.

Sulaeman was arrested together with Ibadurrohman alias Ibad alias Amru from Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, during an operation in Padalembara village, Poso Pesisir Selatan, at 11:15 a.m. local time on Friday.

Both Sulaeman and Ibadurrohman look very young as they are both apparently under 20 years old. It is suspected they were the two children who were reported to have received self-defense training from terrorist suspect Daeng Koro when the latter was still in Tamanjeka, Poso Pesisir. Daeng Koro, a former Army Special Forces (Kopassus) member, was shot killed in an operation last year.

The police have not yet provided more details about the two teenage terrorists, such as why they decided to join Santoso in the forest.

Sulaeman’s request proved that Santoso's terrorists are running out of food after security personnel who joined with the Operation Tinombala Task Force managed to cut their logistics routes. The joint team earlier killed two of Santoso's couriers in Sanginora village, Poso Pesisir Selatan, on Feb. 9.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said the security personnel confiscated one active home-made bomb, a short machete, one backpack, a flashlight and several other pieces of evidence from the two Santoso group members.

Information obtained by thejakartapost.com reveals that the arrest occurred when several Tinombala Task Force intelligence members got information from residents of Kampung Baru, Padalembara village, Poso Pesisisir Selatan, saying that there were two unidentified people in their village.

The intelligence personnel later approached the two people, asking where they came from. One of them replied that they were from Sumatra but the answer drew suspicion as he spoke in a Madura dialect. The two were then arrested.



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