Indonesia seeks immediate deportation of terrorist’s wife, kids

DAVAO CITY – Indonesian authorities are arranging the immediate repatriation of Istiada B.T. Oemar Sovie, the wife of Dulmatin, an al-Qaeda-linked Indonesian militant who is among Asia’s most wanted terrorist suspects, mainly for his alleged role in the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

According to Indonesian vice consul Bambang Gunawan, his government would ask the Philippine government to immediately deport Sovie with all her six children in tow.

"We want her deported but she should be deported with all her six children and not just one or two. All her children should also be brought back to Indonesia," Gunawan told The STAR.

He clarified that Dulmatin and Sovie have six children, with the youngest born in Sulu.

"I was told only today that Sovie gave birth in Sulu to her sixth child with Dulmatin. So, it already brings to four of the couple’s children and not just three that are still missing," Gunawan said.

Sovie, who assumed the name Amenah Toha when she came to the Philippines to join her husband, was arrested last Oct. 3 in Patikul, Sulu, along with her two sons, six-year-old Edar and eight-year-old Alih.

The Abu Sayyaf has been providing sanctuary to Dulmatin and Patek in Jolo’s dense jungles where they are being pursued by over 5,000 troops under "Oplan Ultimatum."

The US government has put up huge rewards for the capture of Dulmatin, Patek and Abu Sayyaf chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani.

Through its Rewards for Justice Program, the US government offered millions of dollars for the capture of the three terror leaders, categorized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as "high- value" targets.

The US government is helping out in the manhunt for the three in Sulu in terms of assistance and advice through its technical teams.

Gunawan stressed the Indonesian government wanted the immediate deportation of Sovie and her six children for humanitarian reasons.