LAKSAMANA.Net, November 10, 2004 11:40 AM
Four Terror Suspects Released
Laksamana.Net - Police have reportedly released four men recently detained for
questioning on suspicion of involvement in terrorism.
The four were arrested in two separate raids in Bogor and Sukabumi regencies in
West Java province, but later released due to a lack of evidence, National Police
spokesman Inspector General Paiman said late Tuesday (9/11/04).
"They have been released because there was not enough proof to show they were
directly involved in the Marriott or Kuningan bombings, or linked to fugitives Rois alias
Iwan, Noordin and Azahari," he was quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal.
He was referring to the August 2003 bomb blast at the JW Marriott Hotel in South
Jakarta, and the September 2004 bombing outside the Australian Embassy in
Kuningan, also in South Jakarta.
Police believe the embassy bombing was masterminded by Malaysian terror suspects
Noordin Muhammad Top and Azahari Husin, as well as Indonesian militant Rois.
Noordin and Azahari are also suspected of masterminding the Marriott attack and
involvement in the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings.
Paiman, identifying two of the suspects by their initials, said W. (44) and U.Y. (35)
were arrested in Bogor on November 5.
"They are actually residents of Pelabuhan Ratu in Sukabumi, but they were caught in
Bogor following information from a person arrested in [the West Java capital of]
Bandung," he said.
He said police were able to prove the two men had participated in military-style
training at Mount Peti in Pelabuhan Ratu over May-June 2004. "They were trained by
Rois and commanded by J. alias U.," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
"They told local residents the training was carried out to expel thugs who often
disturbed people by asking for money and by forcibly mining for gold at Mount Peti."
But Paiman said the fact was that the men were being trained in firearm use, map
reading and military tactics, and had undergone radical Islamic teachings, especially
jihad.
"Both of them were released on November 8 because there was insufficient proof that
they were involved in the planning and implementation of the Australian Embassy and
Marriott bombings. There was also not enough proof that they were linked to the
fugitives suspected of involvement in terrorism," he said.
He said the other suspects, N. alias I. (28) and A.J. alias A.S. (27), were detained on
November 8 in a residential area of Pelabuhan Ratu. The two had also undergone the
same military training and religious lessons. They were released Tuesday.
Paiman said there was no proof that the two knew Rois or had been recruited as
potential suicide bombers. "They were only trained to wage war on crime. And they
were proven to have followed the training, but its was not proven they carried out
bombings. So based on the Terrorism Law they were therefore released," he said.
Police have arrested over 30 people in connection with the embassy bombing but only
eight have been declared suspects.
All eight are accused of harboring the three alleged masterminds, Azahari, Noordin
and Rois. Police have warned the fugitives could be planning more attacks.
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