TEMPO, Monday, 02 July, 2007 | 14:12 WIB
BIN Rejects Statement by TNI Commander over RMS Flag
Waving Incident
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) has denied the
statements of Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Marshall Djoko Suyanto and
National Police (Polri) Chief Gen. Sutanto, which considered this code studying
agency was careless regarding the incident of South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag
waving, Friday (29/6).
"We've been issuing warnings about it earlier. We're not careless," said a special staff
member of BIN's Head, Janzi Sofyan, yesterday (1/7).
The incident took place suddenly after Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu finished
reading an opening speech for the 14th National Family Day event at Independence
Field, Ambon.
Without being noticed, 28 bare-chested dancers entered the ceremony area.
The intruders danced before finally attempted to wave RMS flags.
Eventually they were stopped by security officers.
According to Janzi, BIN Head Syamsir Siregar said he regretted the statement
regarding this case that had placed his institution in a corner.
"I was ordered by him to clarify TNI Commander's statement," said Janzi.
According to him, a week prior to the national celebration was held, the BIN Head for
Maluku Region Post had already conveyed three findings that had to be anticipated.
"These included: RMS flag waving action; rally of ethnic conflict refugees and
environment activists' action," said Janzi.
Unfortunately, he said, BIN's warning was not heeded.
"BIN isn't the executor. We only convey information," said Janzi.
TNI Commander Marshall Djoko Suyanto denied Janzi's statement and acknowledged
there was information from BIN before the show.
"But BIN only said there would be a rally, not RMS flag waving," he told Tempo.
On Saturday, Djoko acknowledged that the security officers were reckless as regards
the incident.
Separately, Maluku Regional Police Chief Brig. Gen. Guntur Gatot Setiawan said he
was ready to resign, yesterday.
Up until yesterday, according to a Tempo source at Maluku Regional Police, the
police already declared 37 people as suspects of the incident. FANNY F | RADEN R |
MOCHTAR T | BUDI SH
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