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.