`GAM suspected behind bombings'

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Following the arrest of two bomb suspects early this week, the police said it was possible that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group was behind the spate of bombings in Jakarta last year as well as the recent blasts at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and behind the United Nations building.

"We're trying to find the link between the two suspects we've arrested and the bombings this year and last," said city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo.

Police arrested on Tuesday evening Lulu bin Kamid and Samsudin, the drivers of a Toyota Kijang and a Suzuki Carry van allegedly used to carry bombs to four destinations: Hotel Jayakarta, Eksotis discotheque and Plaza Hayam Wuruk in West Jakarta; and the parking lot of Sarinah department store in Central Jakarta.

Both are Acehnese and were arrested in Cibinong, Bogor.

The police bomb squad has surmised that Lulu and Samsudin belong to a GAM group led by Irsyadi bin Daud, alias Bambang Setiawan, alias Adi, alias Bambang Adi, 37.

Irsyadi is being tried at the East Jakarta District Court in connection with a bomb attack on Graha Cijantung mall near the Army's Special Forces Headquarters in East Jakarta on July 1, last year.

Samsudin was the driver of Irsyadi, who police say is the GAM commander for Greater Jakarta.

The similarities in the materials and designs used in the bombings led the police to believe that the Free Aceh Movement was behind the bombings.

"So far, they (Lulu and Samsudin) have acknowledged their role in the bombings at Hotel Jayakarta, Eksotis, Plaza Hayam Wuruk and Sarinah. We are delving into whether or not they are aware of the bombings or bombers at the airport and behind the UN office," said Prasetyo.

Earlier, police released a new composite sketch of the suspected airport bomber. The sketch is of someone who reportedly ordered a steel pipe at a workhouse in North Jakarta. It was a pipe bomb that exploded at the airport.

The device exploded in airport Terminal F2 and injured 11 people, including a 16-year-old nanny who lost her left leg below the knee.

During police interrogation, Lulu and Samsudin named his accomplices in the Graha Cijantung mall bombings, namely Syahroul and Nadar aka Atom.

Syahroul was sentenced last year by the East Jakarta District Court to 15 years in prison and is serving the sentence at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta.