Indonesia's armed forces (TNI) need foreign military cooperation in intelligence exchanges and joint exercises to help fight terrorism, the military chief said.
On Thursday, Amed Forces Chief Admiral Widodo Adisucipto said in enhancing the capabilities of its anti-terrorism units the military would prefer "exchange of information and intelligence" with foreign countries.
"TNI will enter bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperations, to share intelligence information and conduct joint exercises to improve the capabilities of anti-terrorist units in facing international terrorism," Widodo said. But asked whether the armed forces would be eligible for aid under a US special anti-terrorism budget, he said: "I don't see any need for that yet."
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, has been under pressure to take a firmer stand against Islamic extremists – many of whom are allegedly linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.
Malaysian authorities have identified three Indonesian preachers as responsible for religious and militant indoctrination within the Malaysian Militant Group (KMM), believed to be linked to al-Qaeda. The KKM has been accused of planning to topple the government violently.
Malaysian police have already detained four Indonesians along with three Singaporeans and 16 Malaysians they suspect of having links to al-Qaeda and other terror networks.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a two-day military leadership meeting, Widodo said it would be Indonesia's "responsibility to ensure that our [current] anti-terror units can stand up against challenges from international terrorists."
But a one-star general told AFP on condition of anonymity that the Indonesian military "need money from foreign donors to help strengthen our military weaponry and equipment." Indonesian troops, the general said, were "capable and reliable enough to battle domestic or international terrorists – including finding al-Qaeda sleeper cells." But he said they "definitely can use better weapons and learn advance military techniques from other countries" in figthing terrorism.
Dozens of alleged Islamic militants have been arrested in the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia but no one has yet been held in Indonesia. On February 2, US ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin called on Indonesia to follow the lead of Singapore and Malaysia in taking firmer action against suspected terrorists.
Indonesian Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi was arrested in the Philippines on January 15 on suspicion of being the bomb-maker for Jemaah Islamiah, a radical Southeast Asian Muslim organization allegedly linked to suspected terror mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Singapore has named an Indonesian Muslim cleric, Ustad Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, as the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah. The cleric, when questioned by Indonesian police last month, denied he was associated with al-Qaeda but hailed bin Laden as "a true Muslim fighter". He was not arrested.