Ansor member quizzed over shoot-out

Ansor member quizzed over shoot-out

JAKARTA (JP): The suspended deputy treasurer of the Ansor
Muslim Youth Movement, Aris Junaidi, was quizzed on Tuesday at a
Jakarta military police (Pomdam) office in connection with the
April 1 fatal shoot-out outside the Muslim organization's
headquarters in Kramat, Central Jakarta.

Aris was tight-lipped after the questioning, but city military
police chief Col. Yustiono Bachri told reporters that Aris
admitted to having met and conversed with a marine officer, Sgt.
Aliman, a day before the latter was shot to death in an exchange
of fire.

"Aris told my officer that he had met Aliman in Ciganjur,
South Jakarta, on the eve of the incident, demanding money so
that he could visit his hometown. Aris invited Aliman to come to
his office on April 1," Yustiono said.

"He added that he had known Aliman for the past year."

Aris was grilled for about four hours, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

"Aris also told us that the brawl began on the first floor of
the Ansor office, where the convenience store is located. He said
the dispute occurred between Aliman, his brother Ashadi, who is
an Ansor member, and a man named Heri, whom Aris claims to have
not recognized."

Yustiono added that the Jakarta military police were looking
for Heri.

Rumors have been circulating that the incident was sparked by
a dispute over a share of money given by President Abdurrahman
Wahid to cover medical fees of the Papuan independence movement
leader, Theys Eluay, some of which reportedly went to Aris. The
Ansor member has denied the reports.

Aris was not accompanied by either his lawyer or bodyguards on
Tuesday, despite his complaints of death threats.

"My wife and in-laws were shocked when they read in the news
that I was allegedly involved in the shootout... I have never
been interviewed over the matter. Since (my alleged involvement
in) the State Logistics Agency (corruption) scandal, I have
received many threats," Aris told reporters before going to be
questioned.

Ansor is the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim
organization, Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), which was formerly chaired by
Abdurrahman.

Police have said Aliman was shot dead by a Central Jakarta
Police officer First Adj. Insp. Agus Sunardi, who along with two
civilians, suffered gunshot wounds in the incident.

Yustiono said that no suspects had been declared in the case
so far.

"We are still waiting to receive results from the National
Police Forensics Laboratory (Puslabfor), on the guns fired in the
shootout," Yustiono said.

Separately, Puslabfor deputy chief Sr. Comr. Dudon Setia Putra
said that both the guns used in the incident were Colt 38's.

"A Colt 38 is a standard police gun. How Aliman got hold and
use of a Colt 38 is for Pomdam to investigate. A standard marine
officer's gun is an FN," Dudon told The Jakarta Post. (ylt)