Jakarta – The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism unit is tracking terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah's (JI) source of funding after arresting its leader Para Wijayanto, according to National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo.
"[They] must be supported financially and the group is developing various businesses [to fund its activities]," Dedi said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.
For instance, funding for the terrorist group came from palm oil plantations in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Dedi said. The funds were used for the organization's activities and salaries for its personnel.
"Members in the organization are being paid Rp 10 million [US$707.19] to Rp 15 million [per month]," he said.
The organization also used funds to send recruits to Syria for military training with extremist groups. It has sent members for training on six different occasions, according to the police.
"Right now the organization has yet to commit terrorism in Indonesia because it is building its power to establish a caliphate," he said.
Dedi further explained that the organization was focusing on recruitment and giving recruits the opportunity to go abroad to gain experience.
On Saturday, Densus 88 arrested Para, the leader of the JI militant network, which is linked to Al-Qaeda, and a student of Abu Bakar Basyir, in Bekasi, West Java.
The police also arrested four other terror suspects linked to Para, namely his wife Masintha Yasmin and his aides Bambang Suyoso, Abdurrahman and Budi Tri on the same day.
Para Wijayanto has been involved in terrorist activities for over two decades. He was involved in several terrorism cases such as the Bali bombings, the Australian Embassy bombing and the 2005-2007 riots in Poso, Central Sulawesi.
Para was accused of supporting another terrorist group, Mujahidin Indonesia Timur, and rioters during his time in Poso through his bomb assembly and intelligence capabilities. (awa)