Police charges baseless: MMI
SEMARANG: A top executive for the extremist Muslim grouping Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) denied on Tuesday that MMI had conducted secret military-style training recently in the mountainous Kopeng area in Salatiga regency, Central Java. "MMI has never held military training secretly in any locations in the country. Fighting for truth through secret means is not MMI's style," said Irfan Awwas, chairman of the MMI, responding to police charges.
Despite the denial, chief of Central Java police Insp. Gen. Chaerul Rasyid insisted that the military-style training had indeed taken place in the area. It was not the first time the group had conducted military training, said the two-star police general.
Last year, the group held military training in the mountainous Boyolali and Tawangmangu area, and police had bullet casings at the training sites. The police are still investigating the case, said Chaerul.
The military training issue is sensitive for MMI because it is linked to convicted felon Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, an extremist Muslim cleric who has frequently been linked to regional terror group Jamaah Islamiyah. Ba'asyir was recently sentenced to 30 months jail for his role in the Bali bombings. -- JP
;JP;YULI TRI SUWARNI;STE;CD; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Bandung-toll-road Cipularang road opens for free JP/5/FOKUS
Cipularang road opens for free
BANDUNG: Motorists for the moment can travel for free on the new 41.3-km Cipularang toll road, which was opened on Tuesday at 6 a.m. by developer PT Jasa Marga.
Company official Singgih S., said the road was opened earlier than expected after many motorists expressed their desire to try it out.
Connecting Cikampek, Purwakarta and Padalarang, the route had final repairs made to it on Monday with a landslide cleared away.
"We are accommodating the people's desire for speedy a Jakarta to Bandung trip," Singgih said.
The company would only begin charging motorists when it was given permits to require a proposed Rp 29,000 (US$3.2) toll, he said. -- JP ;JP;M.UZAIR;STE;CD; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Palembang-gas Protesters oppose gas pipeline JP/5/FOKUS
Protesters oppose gas pipeline
PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: At least 700 people protested outside the office of state-owned gas company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk. in Palembang on Tuesday.
The protesters said they represented residents from six districts in Muaraenim regency whose land was being acquired for the company's 500-kilometer long natural gas pipeline.
According to the protesters, they are not being paid a fair price for their land.
"We feel like we are being used because the price placed on our land is a lot lower than we expected," said Idris, a resident of Pengandingan village, Sungai Rotan Muaraenim district.
He said the company had priced their land at Rp 2,700 per meter, Rp 2,000 per meter for paddy fields and Rp 1,000 per meter for swamp.
"We are demanding Rp 5,000 per meter. That is the standard price," Idris said. -- JP