Death sentence sought for Maluku terrorist

Death sentence sought for Maluku terrorist

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Prosecutors told a court on Thursday a suspect in two separate
attacks in Maluku province that left nine people dead, including
five police officers, should die for his actions.

The defendant, Asep Djaja, along with four other accomplices,
planned and carried out an attack on a neighborhood in Wamkana,
Buru regency, in May last year, prosecutors said. The attackers
sprayed gunfire on a neighborhood near Wamkana beach from a boat
for 15 minutes, killing three people.

Prosecutors said Asep, a militant Muslim, was also involved in
planning and executing another attack on a post manned by Mobile
Brigade police personnel in Loki, West Seram regency, in May
2005. They said Asep, along with eight other people, including
some from the earlier attack in Wamkana, attacked the post,
killing five officers and a civilian.

The prosecution said the deadly attacks spread fear in Maluku
and those responsible had to be punished to the full extent of
the law.

Asep denied that he played any role in planning the attacks.

The trial was adjourned until Jan. 11 at which time the
defense will respond to the charges and sentence demand.

Asep is a veteran of the religious conflicts in Poso and
Ambon, and reportedly attended a military-style training camp for
Muslim extremists in Mindanao, the Philippines, in October 2001.
He is also said to have maintained strong links with several
militant organizations.

He made it onto the police's wanted list after allegedly
murdering Antonious Rolly Roring in Manado, North Sulawesi, in
2001. Rolly was murdered after leading several protests against
Osama bin Laden following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
in the U.S.

Asep is the first person to be tried for the attacks on the
neighborhood in Wamkana and the police outpost in West Seram.
Several other suspects in the attacks have been arrested but are
still awaiting trial.