‘Include 3 detained Indons in UN foreign terrorists’ list’

The United States is seeking the inclusion of three Indonesians detained in the Philippines for various charges, in the United Nations’ list of foreign terrorists, embassy sources said yesterday.

Two of the three Indonesians — Agus Dwikarna and Oscar Makawata — are facing trial for illegal possession of explosives. The third, Fathur Rothman Al Ghozi, has been convicted.

The US, the sources said, will submit evidence to the UN to support its request. It is also asking other countries, including the Philippines, to submit the same request to the UN, the sources said.

The three Indonesians have been identified as members of the Indonesia-based Jemaah Islamiyah, tagged as responsible for the series of bombings in Southeast Asia, particularly in Metro Manila and Bali.

Jemaah Islamiyah is said to have links with al-Qaeda, the international terrorist network of Osama bin Laden. Al-Qaeda admitted responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the US.

The sources said Indonesian officials know about the US lobbying and are questioning it since the courts are still hearing the cases against Dwikarna and Makawata.

The General Santos City Regional Trial Court has convicted Al Ghozi for illegal possession of explosives. He said he bought the explosives from a businessman in Cebu.

Al Ghozi said he gave some 70 kilos of the explosives to the group of a certain Mukils, believed to have links with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the rest were used in the Rizal Day bombings in Metro Manila in 2000.

Dwikarna was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before he could board a flight to Bangkok. He was found to be carrying explosives.

Makawata, on the other hand, was arrested in General Santos City for violating immigration laws and smuggling two Indonesian minors. He was linked to bombings in the area.