Aussie trained with foreign militants (Spanish al-Qaeda)

The Australian ^ | March 19 2004 | Sian Powell

[knighthawk]

AN Australian trained with Spanish al-Qa'ida militants in a camp in war-torn Poso, central Sulawesi, according to intelligence reports.

Security expert Ken Conboy told The Australian the terrorist training camp was set up in an abandoned Christian village about 10km east of Poso. There was some al-Qa'ida funding for the camp, he said, but he was unsure whether it was for food, transport or buildings. At least one photo exists of militants in the Poso camp.

Mr Conboy said the Spanish militants abandoned the camp late in 2001. He speculated that the September 11, 2001, attacks in the US had prompted the move.

"There was talk of an Australian who trained in the camp," he said, declining to give the man's name.

The al-Qa'ida camp had its origins with an Indonesian named Parlindungan Siregar who had a scholarship to study in Spain. It expired, Mr Conboy said, but Siregar stayed on, studying martial arts.

"He met al-Qa'ida and he was smitten," Mr Conboy said. "He's the one who planted the thought in their minds."

Siregar, who has since disappeared from view, escorted suspected Spanish al-Qa'ida leader Imad Yarkas, alias Abu Dahdah, to Poso.

Abu Dahdah, in control of Europe's largest al-Qa'ida cell, agreed to the training camp being established and committed some funds.

Until late 2001 the Poso region was riven by religious conflict, with hundreds of Christians and Muslims killed. Various jihad groups established themselves in the area, including Jemaah Islamiah, Laskar Jihad and Laskar Jundullah.

There was talk of a capacity for training 200 militants, but Mr Conboy said the numbers never got near that figure.

Before the al-Qa'ida camp was abandoned, he added, the leaders had plans to train extremists from various nations, including The Philippines and Australia.

[knighthawk]

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