http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_212123.html
No trail of S'pore terror fugitive: Interpol
chief
INTERPOL, which has issued a worldwide security following the
escape of the Islamic terror leader from a Singapore detention
centre, said authorities have 'no trail for the moment' on the
fugitive who has been on the run for almost four days.
Interpol's executive director of police services, Mr Jean-Michel
Louboutin, told The Associated Press that the escaped Mas Selamat
Kastari, 47, who headed the Singapore Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militant
network, is 'someone who presents a potential physical danger to
others, but also a potential danger by organising future
bombings'.
The international police organisation on Friday put out an
'Orange Notice' for the JI terrorist, who has been linked to
Al-Qaeda and a sensational plot to hijack a plane and crash it into
Singapore's Changi airport.
The Interpol notice, together with Mas Selamat's photograph and
fingerprints, were issued to the group's 186 national member
bureaus following a request by Singapore on Thursday, the agency
said.
'When it comes to escapes, the first hours are crucial,' said Mr
Louboutin.
'The state of Singapore has put into operation everything that's
needed to be done. It's a small country, so it's easy to cross and
leave.'
<!-- show media links starting at 7th para --> Singapore's
Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told Parliament on Thursday
that Mas Selamat escaped because of a 'security lapse' at the
detention centre. He had been taken from his cell to a visitors
room where he was waiting for his family to make a scheduled visit.
He escaped after being granted permission to visit the washroom,
authorities said.
Singaporean authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for
the man they say walks with a limp. Police and military personnel
set up a blockade around the detention centre, while security was
tightened at land, air and sea entry ports.
Analysts said Mas Selamat, who is 1.6m tall and weighs 63 kg,
would try to flee to Indonesia.
Mr Sutarman, chief of police of Riau Islands province, which
shares a sea border with Singapore, told Indonesia's state-run
Antara news agency on Thursday that Singapore 'sent us an urgent
notice requesting intensified patrols to prevent the terrorist from
entering Indonesia'.
He said Mas Selamat 'possesses good knowledge' about entering
Indonesia illegally.
Indonesian police chief Sutanto told reporters in Jakarta that
his force would help Singapore if the JI militant makes it to
Indonesia.
'It's our common obligation, as terrorism is a threat to any
country,' he said, adding: 'We've taken all important measures,'
without elaborating.
Authorities have blamed JI for a string of regional attacks
including the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of
Bali, which killed 202 people, mostly tourists.
Security breaches are virtually
unheard of in Singapore. Among its security services' biggest
successes were foiling alleged plots to bomb the US Embassy, the
American Club and government buildings in 2001 - schemes in which
Mas Selamat allegedly had a hand.
Mas Selamat fled Singapore in December 2001 following an
Internal Security Department operation against JI.
He was arrested on the Indonesian island of Bintan near
Singapore in 2003, reportedly for carrying false identification,
and was jailed for 18 months.
He was later released but rearrested in Indonesia in January
2006 before being handed over to Singapore, where he was held under
the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without
trial.
The 2001 security operation in Singapore led to 15 people being
arrested, 13 of whom were suspected JI members who allegedly
planned to attack a bus full of Americans.
Mr Sidney Jones, who has extensively studied JI for the
International Crisis Group of analysts, said Mas Selamat was a
hardliner but now had little power in the group, whose Indonesian
leadership now rejects 'Al-Qaeda tactics' targeting foreigners. --
AP, AFP.
