The Jakarta Post, January 31, 2007
Reenactment helps cops understand bombing
Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The National Police conducted on Tuesday a reconstruction of the Dec. 31, 2005,
Maesa bombing at Pasar Babi in Palu, Central Sulawesi.
The reconstruction was intended to give police a better understanding of terrorist
attacks in the country.
"At 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, we reconstructed the Pasar Babi bombing, which left eight
people dead, six seriously injured and 57 others with minor injuries," National Police
spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said.
Anton said key bombing suspect Jamaah Islamiyah member Abdul Muis, who was
among 16 people detained following a raid this month that left 14 dead, played an
important role in the police's attempt to get a clear picture of the bombing.
He said that the reconstruction had gone well, despite several attempts to attack
Abdul Muis by members of the public.
"Many people who dislike Abdul Muis wanted to hit him, but we managed to prevent
them from doing so," Anton told The Jakarta Post.
The police reconstructed the attack at eight locations, from where the terrorists built
the bomb to Pasar Babi itself.
"The terrorists made the bomb at Jalan Anoa 91 in Palu at the Bina Umat Foundation.
Afterward, the suspect put the bomb inside a plastic bag, which was also covered
with kangkung (water spinach)," Anton said.
Anton said that the reconstruction had showed that at the crossroads at Jl. Tanjung
Minambaya, Abdul Muis, accompanied by another suspect, Icang, met Dedy Parsan,
also alleged to have been involved in the bombing.
The three men then visited several locations, including the Tanjung Harapan Bridge,
the crossroads at Jl. Kartini and the front of the Mitra Utama supermarket in Palu,
before reaching Pasar Babi on Jl. Sulawesi.
Anton said Abdul had testified that he had been involved with other militants in
procuring firearms in the area.
"There were more than 10 firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and hundreds
of detonators found when (suspect) Mustofa was caught in Rejeki Park in Semarang,"
he added.
Anton said Abdul had said he was sworn to secrecy by Firmansyah, who is now
being held at Palu's Petoba Prison on charges of arms possession and hiding a 2002
Bali bombing suspect.
The reconstruction also led the police to firearm caches in several areas, including
near the Gebang Rejo water company offices, on Jl. Irian and near the Tanah Runtuh
Police station.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Agung Laksono said Tuesday that there were individuals
who wanted the Poso conflict to persist so that they could take advantage of the
situation.
"Just don't let the conflict turn into a vertical conflict," he said, as quoted by
Detik.com news portal.
Agung added that an increase in troop or police members in the area was needed and
that the conflict in Poso could not be resolved because the security components did
not work together effectively.
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