The Jakarta Post, June 07, 2005
New suspect named in Tentena blasts
Ruslan Sangadji and Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Poso/Jakarta
The police have named another suspect in connection with the deadly bombings in
the Christian town of Tentena, Central Sulawesi, as an intelligence analysis has
revealed that the perpetrators are graduates of a military-style training camp in
Mindanao in the Philippines.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday that Abu Hamas, a detainee,
had been named a suspect, bringing the total suspects to 18 after police questioned
at least 90 people.
However, Da'i fell short of providing further data about Abu, only saying that the police
had discovered the residue of materials used to make bombs on his body.
"This is results of forensic tests. But Abu has denied any involvement, and we're still
trying to match the information we have collected so far," he said during a hearing with
House of Representatives Commission III on security and legal affairs.
Other main suspects in the bombings are former government official Abdul Kadir, who
is implicated in a corruption case, and Hasman, the former warden of the Poso prison
where Abdul was detained.
The police are also still searching for two fugitives, identified as Erwin and Atuk, who
are believed to be the ones who set off the bombs.
A source at the Central Sulawesi Police said the group of perpetrators had entered
Indonesia from the Philippines through the Miangas island before heading to Manado,
North Sulawesi, and eventually entering Poso and Palu.
Several members of the group also went to Ambon, Maluku, and Mamasa, Central
Sulawesi.
However, police have yet to identify the real motive behind the incident, whether it was
related to attempts to divert attention from a corruption case involving Abdul Kadir, or
an act of a specific terrorist group.
With the Tentena bombings, combined with the recent warnings from foreign countries
about imminent attacks on hotels here, Da'i said security was being beefed up across
the country.
"We're sensing intensifying communication between accomplices of Azahari and
Noordin Top, which we consider as an attempt to launch new attacks," he said,
referring to the two most wanted suspects in the numerous bomb attacks in the
country over the past few years.
Da'i said the two were likely hiding in Java, most probably on the outskirts of Jakarta,
but did not elaborate.
He also said security was being intensified not only in hotels, but also at all public
places.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said security had been reinforced at 11
embassies, including the French, Canadian, German and United States embassies.
Five luxury hotels, namely the JW Marriott, Shangri-La, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons
and the Hilton, had also had police security strengthened, he said.
Gani said other hotels had been asked to take their own measures to tighten security.
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