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)