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.