Youth forum head named suspect in consulate attack<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The deputy chief of the East Java branch of
\nMilitary Pensioners' Children Forum (FKPPI) Gatot Sutantra was
\nofficially named suspect on Tuesday in the attack on the U.S.
\nconsulate general here last week.<\/p>\n
Gatot is now at the police detention, bringing the total in
\ncustody to four.<\/p>\n
The other three are identified as Soegeng, Kodrat and Bukadi.<\/p>\n
Kodrat and Bukadi are becak (pedicab) drivers.<\/p>\n
Surabaya City Police chief Sr. Supt. Sri Kersno told reporters
\nthat witnesses indicated that Gatot was the instigator and
\nfinancier of the attack.<\/p>\n
"Gatot asked activists from various organizations to join
\nhands in hand in defending the country's interests and make
\npublic opinion with protests against what he perceived as
\nAmerican intervention on Atambua," Kersno said.<\/p>\n
The Sept. 6 killings of three UN humanitarian workers
\ntriggered strong reactions from the United Nations and the U.S.
\ngovernment. A UN Security Council resolution on the matter was
\nissued shortly after the slayings.<\/p>\n
Around 50 demonstrators, claiming to be from several youth
\norganizations, rallied at the U.S. Consulate on Jl. Dr. Sutomo in
\nSurabaya on Sept. 15, protesting what they claimed was American
\nintervention in Indonesia's internal affairs.<\/p>\n
They gave speeches criticizing U.S. threats to Indonesia
\nrelated to disarming militias in West Timor.<\/p>\n
The youths finally climbed the consulate's fence, pulling down
\nthe American flag and setting it on fire.<\/p>\n
The incident sparked criticism from government institutions,
\nincluding the military and police.<\/p>\n
Last week East Java Governor Imam Utomo instructed the police
\nto probe the incident thoroughly saying that the vandalism had
\ntarnished Indonesia's image abroad.<\/p>\n
A witness identified as Soegeng told the interrogators that he
\nreceived a total of Rp 1,275,000 from Gatot to recruit people to
\njoin the demonstration.<\/p>\n
"The fact was that they recruited becak drivers, who got Rp
\n10,000 each," Kersno said, quoting other witnesses.<\/p>\n
He said that Gatot would be questioned further to find out
\nwhere he got the money.<\/p>\n
The arrest of Gatot received a strong protest from chairman of
\nthe Alliance Study for Democracy (FOSAD), Faisol Reza. "What we
\nhave done was our expression to defend the nation's sovereignty."<\/p>\n
He said Gatot must be released or he would deploy people to
\nprotest at the police office. (nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/youth-forum-head-named-suspect-in-consulate-attack-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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