Police claim to have four raid suspects but no arrests so far
Police claim to have four raid suspects but no arrests so far
Damar Harsanto and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Jakarta Police stated that they had four suspects who were
likely involved in the the attack against Star Deli
bar/restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta, last Thursday. However,
the four were still at large as of Tuesday evening although the
police promised they would arrest them later.
The announcement was a late response to the mounting pressure
from the public after the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and other
groups that have allegedly been behind the attacks on night spots
and entertainment centers in the capital since the beginning of
Ramadhan on Oct. 15.
The city police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said FPI leader
Al Habib Muhammad Rizieq did not appear to be directly
responsible for the raids.
"The offenses were committed by individuals, therefore they
must be responsible for the attack as individuals instead of an
institution. But, if we discover later that the four were given
order, then we will arrest the mastermind," he told the press
before a special meeting with Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso at City
Hall.
Firman also apologized for the late response by the police,
which could have prevented the raids.
"We have tried to anticipate incidents which could put
security in the city at risk, but our personnel arrived too late
on the scene," he added.
Firman has been slammed for the poor performance of the police
in dealing with the FPI and other paramilitary groups, especially
over the last two weeks of attacks.
South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Ghufron had said on
Monday that seven witnesses, who were being questioned over the
Kemang attack, confirmed that the perpetrators of the raid were
FPI members.
Video footage from several television stations also seemed to
indicate that the attackers were the FPI members.
However, it took five days for the police name the suspects.
Firman also announced that the police had arrested eight
members of the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) in Bekasi and three
members of the Tangerang Defenders Front for allegedly raiding
night spots.
"We will continue arresting those suspected to be involved in
such raids, based on statements from other detainees," he said.
Governor Sutiyoso reiterated that the entertainment centers
have not violated any regulations. "It is clear that the group
(FPI) is wrong and the police must take action against them."
The city administration expressed concern that such attacks
would damage the tourism and service sector in the city, which
have become one of the city's largest revenue sources.
Bylaw No. 10/2004 on tourism stipulates that night clubs,
discotheques, massage parlors and sauna centers, not including
hotels, must close during the first two days and 17th day of
Ramadhan. Other entertainment centers like bars or billiard
halls, are allowed to stay open during Ramadhan until 1:30 a.m.
as determined by a gubernatorial decree.
The series of attacks this year are not the first for FPI.
Rizieq was sentenced to a seven-month prison term last year for
sending his members to raid and attack bars, restaurants and
billiard centers over the last several years. He was released in
November 2003.