17 suspected members of NII detained in Bandung

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

West Java Regional Police have arrested at least 17 suspected members of Negara Islam Indonesia Region-9 (NII KW-9), which is said to have planned to establish an Islamic state in the country.

Central Bandung Police precinct chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Irianto said here on Monday that they were arrested last Sunday in Jl. Sukarajin III No.18 in Central Bandung at 7:30 p.m.

"Some residents living close to the house were suspicious of people staying there and their guests. With the residents' tip- off we spied on them and later raided the house," Irianto said.

He said that initially they did not believe what the residents had said, as there was a sign saying "Semesta Karya Mandiri Foundation" in front of the house.

But later the police found that the people's activities were not related to what a foundation would normally do. The people and their guests always looked reclusive.

He said that the suspects, including three women, were currently in detention at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters.

The police also confiscated some evidence, including documents on the NII's history, vision and mission.

Residents said the house, which is owned by Wartomo, had been rented by the suspects for about six months and had paid a rent of Rp 6 million per year.

Irianto said that the suspects told the police that 16 of them had taken what they called a Bai'at oath, in which they stated that they gave up their Indonesian citizenship to become citizens of NII or the Islamic state that they had planned to establish, and paid contributions towards it.

They were also required to get six to 10 new members after becoming a new member and were not obliged to say their prayers five times a day before the Islamic state established.

The arrest was the second made by the police this year. In January, the police also arrested 10 people, who were also suspected to be members of NII, in the Bojongloa area of South Bandung. But only one of them was later detained as a suspect.

Bandung police are currently investigating whether the NII KW- 9 is related to the controversial boarding school of Al Zaetun in Indramayu, West Java. The school has been suspected of deviating from the Islamic teaching and becoming a tool of the NII.

Meanwhile, in Bandar Lampung the police have also arrested seven people, who admitted to being members of Darul Islam (DI), which reportedly planned to set up an Islamic state within the country.

Mismulim, Kotabumi penitentiary chief, said that they were currently detained in Kotabumi penitentiary in North Lampung.

He said that they were arrested on Jan. 29 after they robbed a gas station in Sampurnajaya Kalibalangan in North Lampung as part of their attempt to collect funds for their campaigns.

According to him, the police in Bandar Lampung are now investigating the DI network in the province.