President announces top terrorist`s death at luncheon in A`lia

SBY PRESIDENCY

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announces the death of top terrorist Dulmatin here on Wednesday during a luncheon with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the parliament building. The president was in Canberra, Australia, for an official visit.

"I`ve just got good news from Indonesia. Our police have shot to death one of the top terrorists in Southeast Asia, Dulmatin, in a raid in Jakarta," he said emphasizing that counter terrorism was important to secure people`s life from danger.

Yudhoyono`s announcement drew enthusiastic applause from the Australian government representatives participating in the luncheon.

"The welfare of Indonesians and Australians is very important. Let us work together to tackle terrorism in the world," he said.

Born in 1970, Dulmatin was believed to have been one of the masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings which claimed 202 lives, mostly foreigners.

Dulmatin was not long ago reported to be operating in the Philippines where he was several times erroneously alleged to have been killed by the military.

An Indonesian Densus-88 anti-terror police unit last Tuesday (March 9) raided two places in Pamulang, South Tangerang, near Jakarta, killing three terror suspects.

Head of the National Police headquarters` information division, Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang, said the police also arrested three other terror suspects during the raids.

He said the first raid was conducted at 11.30 am on an Internet outlet at the Puri Pamulang shophouse complex on Jalan Siliwangi No.6 in Pamulang, south Tangerang city.

"The suspect with his initial YI alias M was shot dead after he opened fire at police. Police also took into custody a women with three children because they were at the location during the raid," Aritonang said.YI alias M was believed to be Dulmatin.

Besides shooting dead one terror suspect on Jalan Siliwangi, the police at 12.20 am also shot dead two other terror suspects at Jalan Setiabudi No.15, also in Pamulang, South Tangerang city or several kilometers from the first raided scene.

Aritonang said the two dead suspects from Jalan Setiabudi were identified as R and H, while two others known by their initials as BR alias AH and SB alias I were arrested.(ANTARA News)

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