March 17, 2016•Update: March 22, 2016
By Ainur Rohmah
TUBAN, Indonesia
Indonesian security forces have cornered a Daesh-affiliated group hiding in the mountainous forests of central Sulawesi island, but are concerned about their extremist ideologies influencing locals, according to officials Thursday.
Police and military personnel have been waging a months-long operation called “Tinombala” against the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT), led by Indonesia’s most-wanted man Abu Wardah Santoso, in the troubled town of Poso.
Central Sulawesi Regional Police Chief Rudy Sufahriadi said Thursday that an estimated 30 group members were increasingly surrounded by more than 2,000 security personnel, causing Santoso to supervise his followers more closely to prevent “treason”.
He underlined that the group regarded police as “Toghut” -- or people whose killing they considered justified -- with members pledging to never surrender, national news agency Antara reported.
"Those killed at the hands of police are considered ‘syahid’," he said, referring to the Arabic-derived Indonesian word for martyr.
Intelligence data shows that the group currently has around 38 people, but National Police spokesperson Inspector Gen. Anton Charlian expressed concern that the number could rise if Daesh sympathizers join them.
"Our members in the field found that there was a [Daesh] sympathizer who sent food [to MIT]," Tribunnews.com quoted him saying.
The chief of the National Agency for Combating Terrorism told Kompas.com that security in Poso had been tightened, with military and police implementing a new strategy of preventing supplies and information from urban areas reaching the group’s hideouts.
Tito Karnavian also stressed the need to implement a special approach toward residents so they are willing to cooperate with security forces rather than being lured by militants.
"There needs to be various approaches, including an economic approach [toward residents]," he said.
At least three suspected MIT members have been found dead in Poso’s jungles this week, including a body with a gunshot wound to the waist and a leg injury discovered near a riverbank.
Regional police chief Sufahriadi said another suspected militant captured in an earlier operation was assisting in the process of identifying the body, undergoing an autopsy at a nearby hospital.
He could not confirm whether the man had died in a clash with security forces Tuesday.
"He probably was one of the victims of execution by their leader [Santoso]," he added.
Two other bodies recovered after Tuesday’s gunfight have been identified as Turkic Uighur from China who allegedly joined Santoso’s group last year.
"Overall there are six Uighur who joined with Santoso, two of them have died,” said Sufahriadi.
Authorities believe that the Uighur who have joined the group arrived in the Sulawesi region after an invitation by Santoso spread on social media, saying that Asians who wish to join Daesh must first be trained in Poso.
Even before it had pledged allegiance to Daesh, the MIT had been suspected of involvement in the killing of a number of policemen and civilians.
Indonesia has been on alert against extremist activities over the past year, further heightening security measures after an attack in Jakarta left four civilians and four Daesh-linked suspects dead in January.
