The Jakarta Post, January 18, 2007
Police seek two suspects in Maluku arson attack
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Two perpetrators were responsible for burning six government offices in Saumlaki,
Southeast West Maluku regency, early Tuesday, police said Wednesday.
The act was believed to have been a politically motivated attack.
"There is a witness who saw two people on a motorcycle passing the street early on
Tuesday. One of them stepped off the bike and then threw something toward the
office," said Maluku Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Tommy Napitupulu.
Following this incident, the perpetrators fled the scene with security personnel unable
to pursue.
Police said the case was still under investigation and a search was being conducted
for those responsible.
The perpetrators were thought to have been protesting the inauguration of Bitzael
Salvester Temmar and Barnabas Orno as the new regent and deputy regent of
Southeast West Maluku. The inauguration was to take place later that day.
Local industry, trade and economy, agricultural, tourism, land affairs, mining
resources and regional development planning offices were damaged in the incident. All
of the offices were housed in the same building.
"We're still questioning 12 witnesses. The number of witnesses might increase as we
continue the investigation," Tommy said.
Meanwhile, Southeast West Maluku Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Rudi Yuswanto
said the arson attack was originally aimed at the regency's Legislative Council
building.
However, tight security around the location ahead of the day's inauguration ceremony
caused the perpetrators to attack the nearby government office building, he said.
Security in Saumlaki had been stepped up as of Monday in anticipation of the
inauguration. Local police, backed by the police's elite Mobile Brigade, were deployed
to the city's main entrances, and were concentrated at Saumlaki Port.
Eko said his office was still waiting for the arrival of the Maluku Police forensic team,
who were dispatched to investigate the cause of the fire.
"A crime scene investigation will be conducted in one or two days, as we're waiting for
the Maluku Police team," he said.
Leading up to the incident protests had been held in Saumlaki, Ambon and Jakarta in
opposition to Southeast West Maluku regency election results.
Temmar and Orno, who were nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle, bore most of the criticism from protesters.
Losing candidates from the regency's election had filed a court case against Temmar
and Orno, accusing the pair of vote buying and poll rigging. In November 2006, the
Maluku High Court dismissed the case, clearing the way for their inauguration
Tuesday.
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