JI court decision 'irrelevant in fight against terrorism'

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta correspondent | April 23, 2008

INDONESIAN President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is refusing to ban Jemaah Islamiah despite a court ruling this week declaring the terrorist organisation a "forbidden corporation".

A presidential spokesman yesterday deflected pressure from Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who said he was waiting to see if Dr Yudhoyono would act on Monday's ruling.

"The Government of Indonesia has been actively trying to take out and arrest all terrorists and those who commit terrorist activities, whatever names they use," Andi Mallarangeng told The Australian.

"We were not waiting for that court decision to do anything - it was merely confirmation that we are using the right strategy. We will destroy anyone who engages in terrorist acts."

The ruling, handed down in South Jakarta District Court, was part of a 15-year sentence imposed on both the former JI military chief Abu Dujana and the organisation's one-time leader, Zarkasi.

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