GAM behind JSX bombing: Police

GAM behind JSX bombing: Police

JAKARTA (JP): Preliminary police investigations into the
bombing of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building have
suggested the involvement of the separatist Free Aceh Movement
(GAM), an officer said.

"For example, the cash used by the bombers is linked to
marijuana dealers from Aceh. I believe that the money they got
from selling marijuana has been used to buy firearms," National
Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida was quoted by Antara
as saying on Tuesday.

Dadang also said that police had found GAM flags at the
residences of some of the suspects.

The officer said that GAM had deliberately launched the bomb
attack in Jakarta as part of its efforts to create instability,
topple the government and shift the world's attention from Aceh
to the capital.

Dadang was speaking to reporters while accompanying National
Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro during a visit to the Antara
state news agency's head office in Central Jakarta.

His statement was the first to explicitly implicate GAM in the
Sept. 13 bombing at the JSX building which killed at least 11
people, injured dozens, and damaged some 200 vehicles.

The police had earlier announced that most of the suspects
originated from the strife-torn province of Aceh, including two
members of the military.

During the visit, Bimantoro denied that the police had
arbitrarily arrested the suspects in the bombing case without any
prima facie evidence.

However, Bimantoro admitted that the announcement of the
arrests were "too sudden".

The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
had earlier said on Monday that the police had no prima facie
evidence when they arrested the suspects and that they suspected
the police were trying to frame the suspects using fabricated
evidence.

Dadang said that the police would announce the findings of
their ongoing investigation of the suspects next week.

On Tuesday, PBHI representatives met the suspects at Jakarta
Police headquarters under a heavy escort of armed police
officers. (jaw)