Three hard-liners arrested in Bogor

BOGOR: Bogor Police have arrested three Islamic hard-liners for their involvement in attempts to establish an Islamic state.

Jimmi, 21, Fahmi, 25, and Heri, 26, were arrested in a house at the Duta Kencana Housing Subdivision, on Jl. Soleh Iskandar, Tanah Sereal district, Bogor, on Sunday night, the police said. Documents that were seized in the house revealed that they were part of a group that planned to established an Islamic State in Indonesia (NII) between 2005 and 2010.

Heri, who claimed to become an Islamic soldier, told reporters that one had to pay a Rp 150,000 donation to join NII. NII members were also obliged to regularly give donations to the movement.

"I myself have donated Rp 4 million, which is proof that I am faithful to NII," he said.

The money was paid to the Al Zaitun foundation in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Heri said that he used to work for Good Year tire factory in Bogor before he joined NII upon the invitation of Rani, another member, who claimed to be a student of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. -- JP