24 people held for alleged JI links, Da'i says<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja and Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Surakarta<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar confirmed on Friday that
\nat least 24 people have been arrested for their alleged links
\nwith Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) which has been blamed for a series of
\nterrorist attacks in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The arrests by the police's antiterror detachment were made,
\ndespite the fact that the government has never declared JI an
\noutlawed organization in the predominantly-Muslim country.<\/p>\n
However, the police have repeatedly said JI was the regional
\nterror group that masterminded the 2002 Bali attack, the 2003
\nJ.W. Marriott hotel bombing and last year's bomb blast outside
\nthe Australian Embassy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Security Council has included JI in the
\nlist of international terrorist groups affiliated with Osama bin
\nLaden's al-Qaeda network.<\/p>\n
Two Malaysian fugitives Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Mohd.
\nTop, both senior JI members, are believed to have planned the
\nbombing. They are still at large and could launch further
\nattacks, police say.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the celebration of the 59th police anniversary
\nin Cikeas, West Java, Da'i said the 24 suspects were arrested
\nduring raids in Central Java but refused to identify them for
\nfear that their accomplices would flee.<\/p>\n
He promised to give the details of the suspects after seven
\ndays as regulated under the antiterror laws.<\/p>\n
However, a police source in Central Java said one of the 24
\narrested was identified as Iqbal, who is suspected of being
\nclosely linked to Azahari.<\/p>\n
Iqbal was arrested in Wonogiri, Central Java, on Wednesday
\nafternoon, the source added.<\/p>\n
Apart from Iqbal, the owner of the house where he was
\napprehended was also detained. He was named as Joko Sumanto. Four
\npeople who worked at Joko's shop -- identified as Anto, Dani
\nCandra, Gino and Hana, were also nabbed.<\/p>\n
Iqbal was one of the police's main targets for his alleged
\ninvolvement in the Marriott hotel blast that killed 12 people.<\/p>\n
The source also said the police's antiterror detachment also
\narrested six people in Masaran, Sragen regency, three in Boyolali
\nregency, three in Sukoharjo and six others in the neighboring
\nregencies of Temanggung, Wonosobo and Magelang.<\/p>\n
\"Twelve of the 24 suspects had prepared to go to the
\nPhilippines,\" said a senior officer at the Central Java Police
\nwho wished to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
However, the officer could not say whether their planned trip
\nto the Philippines was aimed at fleeing Indonesia or to join a
\nmilitary camp in southern Philippines.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, dozens of activists from the Anti-Kidnapping Front
\nstaged a demonstration in front of the Surakarta Police station
\non Friday against the recent arrests.<\/p>\n
The protesters demanded the release of the 24 people, accusing
\nthe police of violating the Criminal Procedures Code (KUHAP) in
\ndetaining them.<\/p>\n
\"The police consider Muslim activists enemies of the state,
\nwho should therefore be intimidated and arrested,\" said protest
\ncoordinator Kholid Saifullah.<\/p>\n
Kholid said that none of the arrested people were members of
\nthe Indonesian Mujahidin Assembly (MMI) led by elderly cleric Abu
\nBakar Ba'asyir, who was jailed earlier this year over the terror
\nattacks.<\/p>\n
Kholid said there were 11 people from Wonogiri, who were
\ndetained, and not six as claimed by the police.<\/p>\n
Surakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Abdul Madjid denied any
\nknowledge about the reported arrests, saying he would examine
\nwhether there were any local people kidnapped or detained by his
\npersonnel.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/24-people-held-for-alleged-ji-links-dai-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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