arrests of Terrorist Suspetcts not Engineered, Says Police

Jakarta, (Antara) - Indonesia Police chief General Tito Karnavian reiterated here on Friday that the arrests of suspected terrorists recently were not engineered.

Speaking at the Indonesia Police headquarters, the police chief said he was ready to quit his post if the allegation was proven true.

He deplored certain quarters that had cast aspersions on the arrests.

General Tito challenged anyone to come up with evidence that the operation was concocted.

"I will resign if I am found involved in any such thing. If there is proof, show it. We will take firm action. However, if there is no proof, act responsibly. What we did was the result of genuine investigations lasting over months," he explained.

General Tito urged people not to speak without facts. "Do not speak unless you have facts, and do not peddle mere opinions. Respect our security personnel who have worked hard," he counseled.

He called on the people not to be easily provoked by falsehoods being spread.

"Please do not be provoked. Do not casually make utterances aimed at garnering public attention. If there is proof of these arrests being engineered, come forth with it so that we can take some firm action," he underlined.

On Saturday (Dec 10), police's anti-terrorist squad Densus 88 had arrested three suspected terrorists, identified by their initials as MNS, AS and DYN.

MNS and AS were arrested from the Kalimalang flyover in Bekasi while DYN, a woman, was arrested from her rented house on Bintara Jaya 8, Bekasi, West Java.

The police discovered self-made rice cooker bombs in Room 104, occupied by DYN in the three-storey lodging house.

A bomb disposal team exploded one of the three active bombs found at the location.

Densus 88 also arrested terror suspect S alias Abu Iza in Sabrang Kulon, Metasih, Karanganyar, Central Java, on the same day.

Initial investigations revealed that the MNS network planned to detonate the bomb at the State Palace on Sunday (Dec 12).

"As per the plan, it was to be detonated on Sunday morning (Dec 12). MNS and AS were to take DYN to the Istiqlal Mosque and from there, she was to walk to the palace nearby," Head of Public Participation Section of the National Police's Public Information Bureau, Senior Commissioner Awi Setiyono, disclosed.(*)