Abuse of authority at Surakarta bombing: Imparsial

Human rights watchdog Imparsial says that alleged misconduct by security forces led to the recent suicide bombing of a church in Surakarta, Central Java.

“Why didn’t the national police follow up on information already forwarded to them?” Imparsial program director Al Araf told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. “Such ignorance may be an indication of abuse of authority for the sake of certain interests.”

He said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s response aired on television on Sunday evening, ordering an internal investigation within the National Police, the State Intelligence Agency and the Indonesian Military, justified the insinuation of misconduct.

Yudhoyono also stated on Sunday he had been told that the intelligence unit had already warned the police.

Al Araf therefore added that the internal investigation must be completed as soon as possible, as the President had instructed. “Show the results transparently,” he said.

The Surakarta GBIS church bombing occurred on Sunday, killing the suspected bomber and injuring more than a dozen congregation members.

The police announced on Tuesday that the alleged suicide bomber was wanted terrorist suspect Pino Damayanto, aka “Achmad Yosepa Hayat”.