T

he National Police and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) said Wednesday that attacks on police posts in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, were aimed at promulgating terror, contradicting rumors of a campaign against Jakarta gubernatorial candidate and Solo Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Boy Rafli Amar told The Jakarta Post that police had identified several groups involved in the shooting and the grenade throwing incidents at police posts last week.

“Some group members are being interrogated, while others are on our radar. We have yet to identify details of the groups, such as whether or not they are locals. However, so far we believe that the attacks were meant as terrorism, though we need to further examine the motives,” Boy Rafli said without giving details.

An unidentified man was reported to have shot at a police post in Gemblekan, Solo, last week, coinciding with the country’s 67th anniversary, leaving seven spent cartridges at the scene and injuring two policemen.

A grenade was thrown at another police post in Gladak the next day, stirring up locals living in the neighborhood.

Separately, the BNPT’s chairman, Insp. Gen. (ret.) Ansyaad Mbai, echoed Boy Rafli, highlighting that the findings of his agency on the matter were very far from the assumption circulating among the public that the attacks were meant as a smear against Jokowi, one of the Jakarta gubernatorial candidates.

“None of our findings leads to such a conclusion. It’s ridiculous to relate the attacks to the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election. Our findings show that these events are most likely intended to terrorize. Just wait for the police to complete the investigation,” Ansyaad said, adding that the BNPT had sent three teams to work with the police.

Solo is known to be a hotbed of radical Islam, where many terrorists have been either detained or shot dead by the police. The city is also home to the Ngruki boarding school, whose founder, Abu Bakar Ba’asyir, is currently serving a prison term for terrorism.

President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono has instructed the police to intensify vigilance and anticipate any new shooting incidents.

“The President has instructed the police to work as hard as possible to prevent anything unexpected,” presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said.

National Police chief Timur Pradopo has urged the public to remain calm following a series shooting incidents in the country, including the fatal shooting in Paniai, Papua, on Aug. 17.

“There is no need for the public to worry [about the shooting incidents],” he said.

Meanwhile, the situation in Enarotali, the capital of Paniai regency in Papua, has been quiet since police officer Brig. Yohan Kisiwaitoi, 29, was shot dead on Tuesday by an unidentified gunman, who escaped with the victim’s weapon. Local residents are preferring to say at home.

“Enarotali is like a dead city as the residents do not have the guts to do anything due to fear,” Yones Douw, a human rights activist for Nabire and Paniai, said.

Paniai Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anthon Diance confirmed Yones’ remarks. “The situation is not usual,” Anthon said.

In a separate incident, a reporter for Nuansa TV in Central Sulawesi, named Salahuddin, was shot when covering a clash between residents of two villages in Marowala district, Sigi regency, Central Sulawesi, on Tuesday.

— Ruslan Sandadji contri-buted to the story from Palu.