US, INDONESIA COMBINE EFFORTS TO FIGHTS TRANS-NATIONAL CRIME, TERRORISM

    The United States and Indonesia have agreed to fight trans-national crime and strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, during a visit to Jakarta by the U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey. VOA Correspondent Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more. "Mukasey expressed Washington's support for the establishment of an Indonesian anti-corruption task force, in his visit to the office of the Indonesian Attorney General, Hendarman Supandji.

    The United States Department of Justice has advisors and liaison officers here in Jakarta and throughout the region who have built strong relationships with your National Police, the Attorney General's Office, and the Ministry of Law," he said. "They are available to help you build your anti-corruption institutions and the legal mechanisms to recover stolen state assets."

    Mukasey signed an agreement to provide Indonesia with $750,000 in computers and office equipment to help Indonesia set up the anti-corruption task force. Mukasey says the task force will be invaluable in helping Indonesia with its ongoing efforts to recover stolen state assets.

    The United States recently lifted its travel warning on Indonesia, citing improved security conditions. Mukasey also praised Indonesia's efforts to combat terrorism. "Like Indonesia, the United States has faced terrorist threats and terrorist attacks," he said. "We share the challenge of combating violent extremists, while protecting basic civil liberties in the process. Indonesia has been effective in the apprehension and conviction of terrorists and extremists organizations."

   In recent years, Indonesia suffered a series of terrorist attacks blamed on the regional terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiyah. The authorities have arrested more than 300 militants, in the last several years, saying they have seriously damaged JI and its ability to carry out terrorist attacks. (By Nancy-Amelia Collins, News Voice of America, 9/06/08)