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Police seeking five suspects in Gowa council building attack
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On alert -- South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan (center), Gowa customs and traditions community head Andi Maddusila Andi Idjo (left) and the police's spokesperson Sr.Comr. Frans Barung Mangera (right) explain the latest security situation in Gowa, South Sulawesi, after the attack on the Gowa Legislative Council building, in a press conference on Monday. (JP/Andi Hajramurni)
A
n investigation team dispatched by the South Sulawesi Police has identified five people allegedly responsible for attacking and burning the Gowa Legislative Council building.
South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan said three out of the five people set fire to the council building while the other two were involved in the act of damaging its plenary meeting hall.
“Their identities are known. They must be held responsible for their actions. We hope either they immediately surrender or their families will turn them in,” he said on Tuesday.
Anton said the arson had been planned because the perpetrators brought a bottle of gasoline that they used to set light to the building.
“One perpetrator burned down the building while the two others helped him,” he said. Ten other people also had been identified for allegedly damaging properties outside the building.
The incident began when hundreds of people comprising Gowa royal family members and members of the public concerned about Gowa customs and traditions held a rally in front of the council building at 1 p.m. local time on Monday.
They demanded the Gowa Legislative Council revoke Bylaw No.5/2016, which mandates the establishment of a Gowa customs and traditions institute (LAD). Under the bylaw, Gowa regent Adnan Purichta Ichsan Yasin Limpo was inaugurated as the LAD head and will perform the role of and undertake the functions of the sombaya (king) of Gowa.
Anton said four more companies of security personnel had been readied to secure the Gowa Legislative Council compound, the regent’s office, and Balla Lompoa, the Gowa kingdom’s palace. They also would secure the house of Andi Maddusila Andi Idjo, the 37th king of Gowa. (ebf)
