Police search SIRA offices for evidence<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police raided three offices of the Aceh
\nReferendum Information Center (SIRA) on Monday night in
\nconnection with last Thursday's bombing in South Jakarta, which
\nclaimed three lives.<\/p>\n
Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam told reporters
\non Tuesday that they also confiscated evidence from offices in
\nTaman Mini in East Jakarta, Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta and
\nBogor.<\/p>\n
\"The evidence could have been used by SIRA activists, linked
\nto the Guntur bombing in South Jakarta.\"<\/p>\n
A non-governmental organization based in Aceh, SIRA has been
\nknown for its support of the province's independence. It had
\norganized a mass rally last November to call for a referendum on
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
\"In any case, we were not looking for Faisal Syaifuddin (SIRA
\nJakarta coordinator). We have summoned him to show up at Jakarta
\nPolice this Thursday for questioning. We were looking for
\nevidence, and there was a hope that we might find Diana there,\"
\nAnton told reporters.<\/p>\n
Diana is reportedly one of two SIRA activists, who according
\nto police played a large role in the Guntur bombing. Both Diana
\nand the other suspect, Gafi, are still at large.<\/p>\n
The suspects allegedly assembled the bombs to be placed at
\ncertain locations on May 12 in order to create social unrest, the
\nsame day the 1998 deaths of four students were being
\ncommemorated.<\/p>\n
National Police sources said the primary suspect, Taufik
\nAbdullah, admitted to having received specific instructions from
\nGafi at least five days prior to the bombing, to blow up several
\nplaces in Jakarta if military soldiers were sent to Aceh.<\/p>\n
Another police source said one of the men who died in the
\nblast, Kardu alias Du alias Abu, was the \"bomb-assembler\" who had
\nbeen called by Gafi to come to Jakarta, to make bombs.<\/p>\n
SIRA's Jakarta chapter has denied its alleged role in
\nThursday's bombing, noting that SIRA always pursued non-violence
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
Faisal Syaifuddin then demanded the police and military
\napologize for their baseless accusation.<\/p>\n
He also lamented the police investigation into the bombing, in
\nwhich witnesses were not allowed to be accompanied by lawyers,
\nand where the principle of the presumption of innocence was not
\nupheld.<\/p>\n
\"The police should restore our (good) name and hold a
\ntransparent investigation,\" Faisal said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile SIRA chairman Muhammad Nazar told reporters in Banda
\nAceh, capital of Aceh province, on Tuesday that his office in
\nBanda Aceh was attacked and the telephone connection cut off by
\nthe police mobile brigade (Brimob). A big SIRA banner was also
\nremoved from the office, he said. (ylt\/50)<\/p>",
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