-Caveat Lector- http://abc.net.au/news/politics/2002/10/item20021023093218_1.htm
Wed, Oct 23 2002 11:14 AM AEST Police are confident an accurate picture of the events leading up to the Bali nightclub bombings is emerging. Australia had intelligence of terror threat: report A United States journalist claims Australian intelligence agencies had received information about a terrorist attack against Australians in south-east Asia ahead of the Bali bombings. An article in the US News and World Report claims American intelligence sources have referred to conversations between Jemaah Islamiah operatives intercepted by Australian spy agencies, referring to a plot to attack Australians in the region. But the report's author, David Kaplan has told ABC Radio's AM, it is unclear when the intercepts were made, or if they were deciphered before the Bali attacks. "What we can confirm to the best of our sources is before the attack on Bali there were conversations among JI operatives - Jemaah Islamiah - that were picked up by Australian intelligence, talking about hitting Australians in the region," he said. "We're not even sure it was in Indonesia, we're not sure it was in Bali, like a lot of this intelligence it tends to be rather amorphous." Defence Minister Robert Hill says there was no specific warning of a terrorist attack in Bali. "I can't obviously ... speak on specific intelligence in any event, but what I can say is that each of our intelligence agencies have advised the Government that they had no specific information on a threat to tourists in Bali," he said. "And the US has said the same thing after searching its records and the British have said the same thing after searching its records, and it's also the position of the Indonesians." Domestic links Mr Hill says there are individuals in Australia who have links to JI and may even be operatives of the radical Islamic group. The Minister has responded to news reports yesterday that cells called Mantikas are in Australia. He has told the ABC's Lateline program there are definitely connections. "We know that within Australia there are those that are trained by Al Qaeda," he said. "We know there has been constant movement obviously from Indonesia into Australia and that may well include JI supporters. It may even include JI operatives." Senator Hill says the Government began to know Jemaah Islamiyah better after planned attacks in Singapore on the Australian, US and British embassies. Detonation Australian and Indonesian police in Bali say their joint investigation, Operation Alliance, is now trying to determine how the twin bomb blasts on the island resort were detonated. It is now believed a total of 190 people may have died in the blasts at Kuta. Police say the first bomb in Paddy's Tavern was made from TNT. The second in a vehicle parked outside the Sari Club is thought to have been made from up to 100 kilograms of ammonium nitrate or fertiliser mixed with fuel. With speculation a suicide bomber may have been involved, police say determining just how the bombs were detonated is crucial to their investigation. Indonesian police have confirmed they are preparing a sketch of a suspect in relation to the bombing, who they indicate is linked to Jamaah Islamiyah. The sketch is based on statements from witnesses to the bombing. Tax hike Prime Minister John Howard has raised the possibility of raising taxes to pay for higher defence spending after the attacks. In an interview with The Bulletin magazine, Mr Howard said it is inevitable more will have to be spent on defence. When asked about a rise in taxes to pay for the increase, Mr Howard says the rise will have to be funded, but says it is too early to say by how much. But to secure any increase in taxes to pay for defence spending he will need the support of the federal Oppostion and the Democrats. Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett has already responded, saying he would have to be convinced of the need for an increase. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time) -- Outgoing mail is certified virus free Scanned by Norton AntiVirus One must, it is true, forgive one's enemies-- but not before they have been hanged. ~~Heinrich Heine <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
