Umar Patek could be information goldmine: ICG

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 03/30/2011 3:20 PM | National

International Crisis Group (ICG) senior advisor Sidney Jones says Umar Patek, a terrorism suspect allegedly arrested in Pakistan earlier this month, would be an information goldmine on terrorism networks in Southeast Asia and South Asia.

“So the news of Umar Patek being caught is very good to hear,” Sidney said Wednesday, as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Patek allegedly masterminded the 2002 Bali bombing and is also wanted by the government of the United States, among others.

Jones said Umar could have escaped from Indonesia in 2003 with the aid of another suspect, Abdullah Sonata, and Kompak, an organization he chaired. Umar had joined the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) at one period, she said.

Sidney added that the MILF then ousted him in 2005 and Patek had joined a group led by militant Abu Sayaf. Patek, also known as “Abdul Ghoni”, “Abu Syeikh” and “Umar Arab”, is said to have obtained skills in weaponry and bomb assembling in Afghanistan.

“However, we have not known what Umar Patek has been up to during the last two to three years,” Jones said.

A lot of information on Patek has yet to see the light, she said. “For example whether he joined Dulmatin when Dulmatin returned to Indonesia, and on the relationship between the Indonesian and Mindanao radical Islam network.”

Dulmatin was another suspect who was gunned down during a raid by the Indonesian police.

Sidney said the Philippines government would also request that Patek be brought to court there.

Okto could play in Europe: ESPN

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 01/02/2011 9:40 PM | Headlines

Indonesian Ryan Giggs: Indonesia's Oktovianus Maniani (right) battles for the ball against Philippine's goalkeeper Neil Etheridge center, and Emelio Caligdong, rear left, during the second leg of their AFF Suzuki Cup soccer semifinal matches at Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010. (AP/Dita Alangkara)

ESPN soccernet has selected Indonesian winger Oktovianus Maniani as an Asian soccer player that could play in Europe thanks to his entertaining dribbling ability, which looks similar to Manchester United star Ryan Giggs.

Okto burst onto the regional scene at the recent AFF Suzuki Cup, in which Indonesia made the final before being defeated by Malaysia, ESPN columnist John Duerden said Sunday.

"Oktavianus is certainly fun to watch as he hares down the left flank, and, at the tender age of 20, is only going to improve. If the “Indonesian Ryan Giggs” is to match up to the original, he needs to follow in his footsteps and find a consistent end product. Still very raw, but that just makes him all the more exciting," Duerden wrote on the ESPN website.

Other Asian talents on Duerden’s list include Deng Zhuoxiang of China and Koo Ja Cheol of South Korea.