Apr. 30 - The Australian government has issued a travel warning for southern Thailand (Australians warned off Thailand.) This warning comes not only as a result of recent terrorist actions there but also because of 1.3 tons of ammonium nitrate as well as dynamite and detonators stolen in late March which authorities fear could be used in an attack.

Although not related, the arrest of Abu Bakar Bashir for masterminding the 2002 attack in Bali will probably heighten tensions in the area. Bashir is said to be a leading figure in Jemaah Islamiyah which is associated with al Qaeda:

Bashir's fate is a sensitive political issue in Indonesia, where authorities have sought to balance the need to remain aggressive in the US-led war on terror while not appearing to cave in to pressure from the United States and Australia.

Officials have taken their case to the media, arguing in interviews Thursday that they have testimony from scores of witnesses from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore who can prove Bashir is the Jemaah Islamiyah leader.

[A top anti-terror official at the security ministry Ansyaad] Mbai also said authorities have recently uncovered reams of new documents implicating Bashir, including a letter signed by Islamic extremists in the Philippines that allegedly identifies him as the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah.

Posted by: Debbye at 12:19 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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