Indonesia extends operation against Daesh-linked group

By Ainur Rohmah

TUBAN, Indonesia

Indonesia has extended a military operation against a Daesh-linked group hiding in the jungles of Sulawesi island, with the aim of catching remaining members after its leader was shot dead last month.

Central Sulawesi province’s police chief told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that “Operation Tinombala” would continue in August and September to capture 16 suspected members of the East Indonesia Mujahideen (MIT) who remain in the mountainous areas of troubled Poso town.

Brig. Gen. Rudy Sufahriadi said security forces would cooperate with the National Commission on Human Rights to ensure there would be no rights violations during the operation.

"Next week they [the commission] will come to [provincial capital] Palu and talk about the 16 fugitives still sought, so they [fugitives] immediately come down the mountain and surrender," he said.

Since its launch in January, Operation Tinombala has been extended several times with the aim of hunting down MIT members, whose numbers have dropped from 40 after 16 were killed and eight arrested.

Since its leader Abu Wardah Santoso, the country’s most wanted man, was killed in a July shootout, his two right-hand men, Basri and Ali Kalora -- many Indonesians use just one name -- have assumed leadership.

According to Sufahriadi, the morale of Santoso’s sympathizers has declined following his death, resulting in the surrender of his wife and two followers.

He ensured that the Tinombala Task Force would treat those who surrender fairly and in accordance with the law.

The National Human Rights Commission’s commissioner, Siane Indriani, said the operation would prioritize the use of persuasion rather than violence.

"These efforts [to persuade fugitives to surrender voluntarily] are not easy. However, we are still going to attempt to explore how this can be done," she was quoted as saying by kompas.com.

The commission has formed a team to mediate between the group and the government in hopes of encouraging its members to surrender voluntarily.

Indriani said their team will cooperate with humanitarian organization Medical Emergency Rescue Committee to send a team of volunteers, doctors and medical personnel -- who would set up health posts in suspected hideout areas -- during the mediation process.

Santoso pledged allegiance to Daesh in 2014 and the government tightened security and focused its operation against his group after a Jan. 14 terrorist attack in central Jakarta killed four civilians and four Daesh-affiliated assailants.