Police nab one more suspect in Marowali case<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police have arrested another terrorism suspect in relation to the
\nmurders of Christians in Marowali, Central Sulawesi, bringing the
\ntotal to 23 arrests. Another six suspects have been killed during
\nthe ongoing police manhunt.<\/p>\n
National Police Detective Chief Com. Gen. Erwin Mappaseng said
\nMonday that they had arrested Gufron over the weekend. He was
\nalleged to have provided logistics and participated in the
\nattack.<\/p>\n
He said police were still hunting another five men in relation
\nto attacks on Christians in the neighboring regency of Poso.
\nPolice have made 16 arrests and killed one suspect in this case.<\/p>\n
Despite widespread allegations, including from senior
\ngovernment ministers, that the well organized attacks were the
\nwork of regional terror network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), Mappaseng
\nexpressed doubt.<\/p>\n
JI has been blamed for the Bali and J.W. Marriot Hotel blasts,
\nwhich claimed a total of more that 210 lives.<\/p>\n
"Don't link the two incidents because we have no proof showing
\nthat the violence and the bombings are connected. I think they
\nare too far apart to have links."<\/p>\n
On Saturday National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the
\nterrorists could have links to bombings, but stopped short of
\nstating they were connected to JI.<\/p>\n
Mappaseng said the Poso and Marowali attacks were the work of
\nindividual actors. They had nothing to do with Muslim or
\nChristian communities, he claimed.<\/p>\n
"That's why religious leaders were not provoked by the
\nincidents because they remain committed to the Malino Accord."<\/p>\n
The accord, signed in Malino, South Sulawesi in 2001, brought
\nto an end a two-year religious war in Poso in which more than
\n2000 people were killed.<\/p>\n
Police said the recent violence in the two districts were
\nunder one command; they just divided the work between two groups.<\/p>\n
Mohammadong, a suspect believed to be in charge of guns and
\nplanning the violence, was killed by police.<\/p>\n
Police believe the weapons used in the attacks came from the
\nPhilippines.<\/p>\n
Those arrested are expected to be tried under antiterrorism
\nlegislation, which carries the death penalty.<\/p>\n
The violence, which erupted on Oct. 13, has so far claimed 13
\nlives, left dozens of others injured and created hundreds of
\nrefugees.<\/p>\n
Mappaseng admitted that several of the terrorists had been
\narrested for a killing in Jakarta in 2000 but had all escaped.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-nab-one-more-suspect-in-marowali-case-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}