Jakarta: Moderate Muslims threatened by Fundamentalists

A fundamentalist website has posted death threats for the president, vice president and other members of the governing executive.

JAKARTA (AsiaNews)- President Yudhoyono, vice president Jusuf Kalla, members of the governing executive and the leader of the country's most important moderate Muslim organisation have received threats from Muslim fundamentalists, ready to launch attacks against Indonesia's political and religious leaders and drag the nation into total chaos.

The alarm was sounded by anonymous security sources; the threats are being carried by some web-sites which blame the government for the sentencing to death of Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufrom, better known as Mukhlas, the authors of the 2002 Bali bombings, who are set to be executed within the next few days.

The death sentence passed down for the three terrorists have brought tensions across the nation to boiling point. Over the past few weeks massive security measures have been put in place; possible targets now not only include the American embassy and other western owned buildings but also petrol reserves and refineries.

Top government security officials have held a closed door meeting to discuss contingency plans for possible attacks. Maximum reserve surrounds all measures: "We cannot give further details about this issue" was all State Intelligence Bureau Chief Gen. Syamsir Siregar would disclose.

The threats were contained in the website www.foznawarabbilkakbah.com: posted anonymously the messages are cleared in three different languages: Indonesian Arab and English: "shooting the trio Islamic mujahids will provoke violence from any other mujahid". This is followed by a warning addressed to President Youdhoyono, vice president Kalla, the Indonesian Minister for Human Rights Andi Mattalatta SH and Kiai Hajj Hasyim Muzadi, president of the nation's largest moderate Muslim group, Nahdlatul Ulama (Nu).

The statement goes on to inform that anyone who has an "active part in the capital punishment of the three fighters" will be targeted; it is signed by the trio. Two days ago Imam Samudra - also sentenced to 8 years in prison for his role in the Bali massacre - had launched a personal threat. In a message written with his own hand, he once again voiced that "there is no freedom for any Muslim blood shed by firing shots." The Indonesian Minister for Defence has invited the public not to be overly influenced by this campaign of terror promoted by fundamentalists.