Antiterror police officer attacked in Poso

National News - May 09, 2006

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Poso, Central Sulawesi

An unidentified member of the police antiterror unit detachment 88 was wounded in a mob attack Monday when he together with a fellow officer in an operation to arrest Taufik Badahu for his alleged involvement in a series of violence acts in Poso, an officer said.

Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Rudi Sufahriyadi said that during the operation, Taufik who had just finished morning prayers at the local mosque, resisted arrest.

Several local residents who witnessed the arrest attempt cried for help and banged electricity poles to attract the attention of people in the community.

About 100 people ran out of their homes and attacked the policemen, wounding one of them, while Taufik escaped.

The police officer was rushed to Poso General Hospital, while the mob set fire to the two police motorcycles.

Rudi said that he could not give details of the chronology of the attack as officers were still investigating the case.

"I don't have the authority to give further comments. The antiterror unit is authorized to give a statement. As of now we are still investigating the incident," Rudi said.

The situation in Poso was still tense as of Monday afternoon as Taufik's family members and other neighbors had not dispersed. They demanded an explanation for the arrest of Taufik.

Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno denied his earlier statements that five residents arrested by the antiterror police in the Central Sulawesi city of Tolitoli on Friday had links with fugitive terrorist Noordin M. Top.

He said that police initially thought that two of the five people arrested were working with Noordin, but it was later proven that the two were just involved in criminal activities in Central Sulawesi.

"I want to clarify again that the five people arrested in Tolitoli were not Noordin's subordinates. They were just involved in a number of violence acts in Poso and Palu," Oegroseno said.

He further explained that the five were still under police detention at the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters. They will be transferred to the National Police Headquarters for further questioning, he said.

The five arrested in Tolitoli were identified as Aprianto alias Irwan, Arman alias Haris, Nano, Asruddin and Abdul Muis. ***