Piecing together the Bali links

From Maria Ressa
CNN Jakarta Bureau Chief

Police officers found firearms and ammunition hidden inside plastic pipes buried in a jungle close to the village where they arrested Amrozi

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VIDEO CNN's Maria Ressa reports on the link between al Qaeda and the deadly bombing in Bali. (November 11) PLAY VIDEO JIHAD IN ASIA A CNN Special Report by Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa  • Part I: Uncovering jihad network  • Part II: Al Qaeda's Asian network  • Part III: Terrorism's new frontline  SPECIAL REPORT • Ba'asyir the 'glue' in terror network • Video: Suspect confesses • Gallery: Day of mourning • In-depth: Bali bombings SPECIAL REPORT War against terror: Southeast Asia front

(CNN) -- Exactly a month ago, bombs in Bali killed nearly 200 people. Now based on never before revealed regional intelligence documents, CNN has pieced together the links between the main Indonesian suspect, Amrozi, and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) -- al Qaeda's network in Southeast Asia.

According to an FBI document, the plot to target bars was first mentioned in an al Qaeda meeting in Thailand early this year led by Riduan Isamuddin aka Hambali, the operational head of JI.

His plan was to conduct small bombings in bars, cafes or nightclubs frequented by Westerners in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, according to a confidential FBI Report

Soon after that meeting, Hambali returned to Indonesia and, according to regional intelligence documents, told a man named Faiz Bin Abu Bakar Bafana, now in custody in Singapore, that he would be replaced as an operational leader by a man named Muklas.

The document says, "Muklas would be appointed to replace him since his name had been mentioned in the mass media as a person wanted by the security agencies. "

Muklas, according to intelligence sources, is the brother of Amrozi, a 40-year old self-taught mechanical engineer, arrested by Indonesian police last week as the main suspect in the Bali bombings.

Under police questioning, Amrozi admitted helping make the Bali bombs, he said, to target Americans.

Amrozi's brother

Indonesian police say Amrozi, like his brother Muklas, fought in Afghanistan and traveled frequently to Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

In Malaysia, intelligence sources tell CNN Amrozi met with Fathur Roman Al-Ghozi, now in Philippine custody, another JI member accused of multiple bombings in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Intelligence sources tell CNN they believe Amrozi is the Rozi mentioned in a confidential document who attended a meeting where a plot to assassinate Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri was discussed.

The man who led the meeting is Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, acknowledged by more than half a dozen countries as al Qaeda's spiritual leader in the region. He was arrested by Indonesian police last month, but has not been charged in the Bali blasts

Although Indonesia's military intelligence is aware of the links in this terror network, the police have announced only a fraction of this information publicly.

Insiders said this could be a sign of caution and political infighting. Nonetheless, intelligence officials warn, dismantling al Qaeda's network is key to prevent future attacks.

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