Police charges baseless: MMI
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
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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
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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