The Jakarta Post, February 25, 2003
Pakistanis arrested for possession of 12 bombs
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua
A Pakistani citizen was arrested by police in Sorong, Papua, for the possession of 12
hand-made bombs, 1,650 arrows, and a large number of slingshots.
And police in Masohi, Central Maluku, have deported four Pakistanis for immigration
documents, in relation to giving Muslim sermons, which authorities say could reignite
the bloody civil war.
The chief of Papua Provincial Police Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo said in Jayapura on
Monday that M. Choya, owner of expedition company PT Prima Tirta, was arrested
Monday in connection with the seizure of the weapons from a company warehouse
last week.
He said Choya and his employee, Sukisman, were still undergoing intensive
interrogation. Police did not rule out further arrests.
He said the suspects had claimed that since 1999 they had stored the weapons for
self-defense purposes, in line with the tense situation in the province.
"We have sent the explosives to the forensic laboratory in Makassar, South Sulawesi,
to determine their power," he said, adding the case would be thoroughly investigated
to determine if there were any links to conflicts in Indonesia, including in Poso in
Sulawesi and Ambon in the Malukus.
Papua governor Jaap Salossa said he had instructed security authorities to stay alert
for disturbances amidst the controversy on the formation of two new provinces.
"Besides, security authorities have been asked to detect the possible entrance of
certain sides who are trying to create a new (sectarian) conflict in the province. We
should learn from Maluku."
Maluku's acting governor Sinyo P. Sarundayang said in Ambon on Monday that he
had instructed police to investigate foreigners and their activities to maintain peace
following three years of war.
"The four Pakistani citizens were deported after they were found doing activities
without any permission from authorities. They were also preaching in villages, an
activity that could ignite the sectarian conflict," he said.
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