Police seize live ammunition in Palu

PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): Palu Police have found thousands of rounds of ammunition in a van parked in a square that last year hosted the national Koran reading contest here, an officer said on Wednesday.

Palu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Djasman Baso Opu said that the discovery took place on Tuesday afternoon, and five people found inside and near the van had been arrested.

Police confiscated 79 cartons containing 3,950 rounds of 3.8 caliber MU-6 Tj ammunition, 10 cartons with 500 rounds of U.S.- made 9-caliber Luger ammunition and five boxes with 100 rounds of 223-caliber ammunition. But no weapons were found in the car.

A IC-V68 walkie-talkie, a pair of binoculars and a pocket camera were also seized.

He said they were questioning the five detainees about the source of the ammunition and the reason why it was in their possession.

Djasman said that police officers became suspicious when they saw a van parked inside the square, which is located on top of a hill in the outskirts of Palu.

He said the two people outside the car told the police officers that they were relaxing.

The police opened the doors of the van, and a carton containing ammunition fell to the ground. Three people were also inside the van. The police have detained all five for further interrogation.

Jihad

In an unrelated development, 25 members of Laskar Jihad Ahlul Sunnah wal Jamaah Muslim group, led by Ajip Safruddin, arrived in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi on Wednesday.

The unarmed jihad fighters came from Surabaya on board the MS Tidar.

Ajip said that the purpose of the visit was to see firsthand the life and conditions of Muslims in Poso, which has seen violence recurring over the past month.

He also disclosed plans to open secretariats in Poso and Palu.

Ajip said that Jihad fighters were called to help Islamic adherents in Poso after receiving information that a number of Muslims in Poso had been killed.

"Muslims in Poso have been robbed of their rights and we have come to help them get their rights back," he said. (24/sdt)