Suicide bombing suspected in Tentena attack<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Palu\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The recent bomb attacks in Tentena in Central Sulawesi may have
\nbeen the work of a suicide bomber as one victim identified as
\nIskandar was not known to locals, according to police, Christian
\nand Muslim leaders.<\/p>\n
The possibility was voiced during an interfaith dialog on
\nSunday evening led by priest Renaldy Damanik from the Central
\nSulawesi Christian Church Communion (GKST) and a Muslim cleric,
\nAdnan Arsal.<\/p>\n
The two said Iskandar, one of the 20 people killed in
\nSaturday's incident, was a stranger among local Christian and
\nMuslim communities.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Renaldy said the Muslim and Christian communities
\nhad agreed not to blame each other for the bombing, and had
\npledged to help the police find the suspects.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Tatang
\nSomantri confirmed Iskandar's identity, saying that his office
\nwas focusing their investigations on his movements before the
\nblast.<\/p>\n
The man's identity was revealed after police found an
\nunofficial card with his name on it in his pocket, Tatang said.<\/p>\n
Suicide bombings are the modus operandi of attacks carried out
\nby the regional Jamaah Islamiyah terror group, which two
\nfugitives, Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Muhd. Top, allegedly
\nbelong to.<\/p>\n
Police hold Jamaah Islamiyah responsible for the 2002 Bali
\nbombings, the 2003 attack on Jakarta's JW Marriot Hotel and the
\n2004 Australian Embassy blast, all of which involved suicide
\nbombers.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Monday there
\nwere strong indications that Azahari and Noordin were behind the
\nattack on the crowded Tentena market, some 60 kilometers north of
\nPoso.<\/p>\n
The two fugitives were probably assisted by new recruits in
\nCentral Sulawesi, Kalla said.<\/p>\n
"The suspects in the bombing are the 'old guys', with Azahari
\nand Noordin likely to be involved. The incident is connected with
\nprevious attacks," he said.<\/p>\n
Kalla said the likely motive behind the bombings was to
\nreignite new religious fighting in the troubled area where
\nhundreds of people have died in outbreaks of sectarian violence
\nduring the past five years.<\/p>\n
"I am really concerned with the police's inability to capture
\nthese two fugitives. However, to replace National Police chief
\n(Gen. Da'i Bachtiar), we will need some time. We will see this
\ndevelopment later," he said.<\/p>\n
Da'i earlier said capturing Azahari and Noordin would be a top
\npriority for police during the first 100 days of President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono's presidency.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono
\nsaid on Monday the Tentena attack showed it was time to replace
\nDa'i and Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto.
\nThere were plenty of good candidates waiting in the wings, Agung
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The bombing was solid proof the government had failed to
\nprovide Indonesians with the standard of security it had
\nconstantly promised during the election campaign, he said.<\/p>\n
"The facts show this. There's still no security for the
\npublic."<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Regional Representatives Council (DPD) member
\nIchsan Loulembah said the bombing was a slap in the face for the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
"The bombing took place when the President was abroad visiting
\nother nations and promoting Indonesia as a safe country for major
\ninvestment," he said.<\/p>\n
A special House team, which was set up in December to
\ninvestigate previous bombings in Poso, is scheduled to deliver
\nits findings and recommendations about the string of terror
\nattacks in the area during a House plenary session on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The team is expected to suggest the government issue a special
\ndecree on the coordination of the police and the military as the
\noperational separation of the two forces remains one of the major
\nhurdles to resolving the Poso conflict.<\/p>\n
In Palu, Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Rais
\nD. Adam said on Monday his office has questioned 12 witnesses to
\nthe recent attack.<\/p>\n
"The National Police headquarters has sent several units to
\nsupport the investigation. But there is not yet any plan to
\ndeploy a large number of personnel (there)," he said.<\/p>\n
Tentena, which was spared from the earlier communal violence
\nthat hit Poso, now has the second-highest death toll for a bomb
\nattack in Indonesia after Bali, where two bombs killed 202
\npeople.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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