Indonesia Calls Militants to Surrender after Death of Most Wanted-Terrorist

Jakarta, 15 Syawal 1437/20 July 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia orders all militants hiding in forests in Poso of Central Sulawesi province to surrender to the security forces after their leader, the most-wanted Santoso, was shot dead.

National Police chief General Tito Karnavian on Tuesday asked them to come out from their hideouts and terminate their terrorist acts, Xinhua reported.

“They (must) leave their hideouts and undergo legal process,” the general said at the State Palace.

The police has reported around 19 members of the militant group, the East Indonesia Mujahidin, led by Santoso, remain in the jungle of Poso.

The figure has significantly decreased since the Indonesian police and armed forces launched a military operation, starting earlier this year.

Santoso was shot dead by Indonesian soldiers in the forest on Monday, Indonesian Security Chief Minister Luhut Pandjaitan confirmed.

The militant group has involved in scores of terrorist strikes in Indonesia, including the suicide bombings in the country’s capital of Jakarta on Jan. 24 that killed 8 people and injured nearly 30 others.

Indonesian counter terror forces have been actively hunting him since 2013, and have done so with greater urgency following the terror attack in Jakarta in January, as they feared he planned to turn the region into a militant hub.

He was the first Indonesian militant leader to publicly pledge allegiance to IS in 2014, and was active in sectarian violence in Poso between 1998 and 2001.

Santoso is believed to have been training Uighur fighters from China in Poso and had links to other militant groups in the Philippines. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)