The Jakarta Post, 22 March 2007
Suspected terrorist killed, cache found
Slamet Susanto and Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta, Sukoharjo
Antiterror Detachment 88 police shot dead a suspected member of a regional terror
group in Yogyakarta Tuesday night, wounding one of the victim's companions and
arresting several others.
The victim was identified only as AM, 39, alias Aman Sunaryo and Agus Wahyudi. As
of Wednesday evening his body had not been claimed from Sardjito Hospital in
Yogyakarta.
While the wounded suspect was treated at Bayangkara Hospital in Yogyakarta, three
of the other suspects, identified as Tedy, Abu and Malik, were immediately flown to
Jakarta without any explanation.
Based on a tip from the arrested suspects, the officers rushed to Sukoharjo, Central
Java, to the house of Sikas, a resident of Toriyo village in Bendosari district.
At the house the officers uncovered and seized piles of ammunition, automatic
weapons and explosive materials, some of which were hidden in a two-by-two-meter
bunker under the kitchen.
Authorities found 16 homemade grenades, 300 kilograms of potassium, 20 kgs of
TNT, two AK rifles and thousands of bullets.
"In Surakarta (Central Java) many suspected terrorists roam around freely. This finding
shows they do exist," Surakarta police chief Sr. Comr. Yotje Mende said.
Junaidi, 27, a neighbor of Sikas who helped the police investigate Sikas' belongings,
said he trembled when he saw the piles of weapons. He said he had no idea Sikas,
who was known as a polite man, was involved in underground activities.
Junaidi said Sikas, a farmer, was also known as an imam of a nearby unnamed
mosque where routine prayer gatherings were held.
Sikas was known to be active in prayer activities in downtown Surakarta as well.
Surani, his wife, who wore a headscarf, allegedly used to buy vegetables and other
necessities for a large number of people even though the couple did not have children
or other relatives living with them.
Neighbors said Sikas and Surani used to host more than two guests per day.
The wounded suspect was identified only as SP, 40, alias Sarwo Edi and Parjo.
Armed officers were stationed at all access points to Bayangkara Hospital, including
at the hospital gate.
The arrest took place in front of the Alam Jaya building materials shop in
Karangnongko village, Depok district, in Sleman, said Yogyakarta Police spokesman
Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Santosa.
Budi said the officers also seized three motorcycles.
He added that based on the confiscated evidence, there was reason to believe there
were more suspects at large. "We are still searching for information from witnesses to
hunt down other perpetrators," Budi said.
A statement from the National Police Headquarters claimed the suspects were
believed to be members of an organized terrorist group. Budi denied this, however,
saying they were simply criminals whose activities had not yet led to crimes.
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