Poso's PAN chairman denies possession of bomb ingredients

Ruslan Sangadji and Irvan NR , Palu, Central Sulawesi

Luky Lasahido, the head of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in Poso, denied during police questioning on Friday that he was the owner of seven bags of sulfur that were discovered in a warehouse belonging to him on Wednesday.

The suspect claimed the sulfur, which can be used to make bombs, belonged to an acquaintance he identified as Rafik.

During questioning, Rafik, a resident of Bonesompe subdistrict, Poso regency, also claimed that the bags of sulfur belonged to him.

"We urge them to talk and be more cooperative so the questioning can be completed soon," Poso Police chief Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu on Friday.

Luky was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of storing illegal firearms, bullets and other weapons, as well as the seven bags of sulfur, in his house and a warehouse belonging to him.

Some 300 rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition were found in a desk in the suspect's house in downtown Poso, while items such as the sulfur, swords and crossbows were discovered in a nearby warehouse owned by Luky.

If in fact the sulfur belongs to Rafik, there are questions as to why he was storing the sulfur in Luky's warehouse and why Luky would have allowed this.

It is still uncertain whether Luky has confessed to owning the firearms and ammunition discovered in his house and warehouse by the police, or if he is also denying owning those items.

Police are still questioning Rafik and Luky, who was elected to the House of Representatives for PAN in the April 5 legislative election.

The items in Luky's house and warehouse were discovered during a door-to-door search by the police, which have been carrying out such searches since last year in response to a number of bombings and armed attacks.

During these door-to-door searches, police have turned up numerous bombs and firearms, mostly homemade, that residents had hidden in their houses as a safeguard against a return of religious violence to Poso.

Religious violence broke out in Poso in 2000, leaving some 2,000 people dead and forcing thousands of others to flee their homes. The conflict subsided after the Malino peace deal was signed in 2002, but sporadic attacks and bombings continue to occur.

The younger brother of Luky, Nudin Lasahido, told The Jakarta Post that certain parties were attempting to frame his brother, who is a noted businessman and building contractor in Central Sulawesi.

"Luky has many warehouses in town. Certain parties may have put illegal bomb ingredients or firearms in one of the warehouses so that he would be thrown in jail," he said.

Luky and Rafik are being accompanied by lawyers from the Poso Muslim Defenders' Team during police questioning.

Emerging from the questioning on Friday, lawyer Tajwin Ibrahim lashed out at the police, saying they discriminated against Muslims in their door-to-door searches.

"The police focus the door-to-door searches in Muslim areas such as Poso Kota, Poso Pesisir and Tojo Una-una districts. In order to be fair, they must also conduct searches in Christian areas such as Lage, Pamona and Lore districts," he said.