Surabaya police question Muslim group at seaport

Surabaya police question Muslim group at seaport

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

Police here checked the identity of 148 men wearing traditional
white Islamic robes and claiming to be members of the so-called
Dakwah Islam (Islamic Propagation) group, as they arrived at the
Tanjung Perak port in the East Java capital of Surabaya on
Tuesday.

The group arrived at the port at 8:30 a.m. aboard a Rinjani
passenger ferry. The ferry regularly runs the route between
Sorong in Papua, Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi, Makassar in South
Sulawesi and Surabaya.

The people told police officers -- who conducted body searches
and asked for their identity cards -- that they would go to
Tambora subdistrict in Magetan regency, East Java, to attend a
four-day meeting.

Tanjung Perak Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alex Sampe was told
by the group that the meeting was scheduled to begin on Friday
and would be attended by participants from other Asian countries,
including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The 148 men were not arrested after the search as the police
didn't find sharp objects, explosives or anything else
suspicious, he said.

Alex said the group was then free to travel by bus to Magetan.

The group's traditional white robes resemble those of members
of Laskar Jihad, who were once deployed to fight their rival
gangs during years of religious conflict in Poso, Central
Sulawesi and Maluku islands.

Alex said another group of 300 people -- believed to be the
first group's colleagues -- were also expected to arrive at the
Tanjung Perak port later on Tuesday afternoon. However, by
evening they were yet to come.

He said the investigation was part of "preventive measures" by
local police against possible terrorist attacks in Surabaya and
other major cities across country.

"We enforce "sweepings" against all (suspicious) ferry
passengers at Tanjung Perak. We do not discriminate," Alex added.

Since the JW Marriott hotel bombing on Aug. 5 in Jakarta, that
killed at least 12 people, security authorities have imposed
tight measurers at strategic places, particularly seaports and
airports.

Police have also deployed intelligence agents in a number of
districts in West Java, believed to be home to extremists
advocating Islamic sharia law.

M. Najib Hamid, secretary of East Java's branch of
Muhammadiyah, the nation's second largest Muslim organization,
expressed concern over the incident.

"Though the activity is not directly related to Muhammadiyah,
we deeply regret such excessive action by police. They should not
have displayed their suspicions in a way that is reminiscent of
the New Order (Soeharto's) regime," he said.

"The police's move at Tanjung Perak is counter-productive and
could damage the nation's unity and cohesion," Najib added.