Overseas Security Advisory Council Jakarta Country Council Amcham Security Committee, Report on Events in May 2014
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OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL JAKARTA COUNTRY COUNCIL AMCHAM SECURITY COMMITTEE, REPORT ON EVENTS IN MAY 2014 OSAC Jakarta Country Council / AmCham Indonesia Security Committee: Chair: Scott Hanna Vice-Chairs: Colin Good Chris McCann U.S. Embassy Regional Security Officer: James J. Murphy Summary of Security-Related Issues throughout Indonesia The following selected information was compiled from submissions from IPJ (Indonusa Primatama Jaya), and also Hill & Associates, to whom we are deeply grateful. This report contains information on a broad spectrum of security concerns and incidents which have occurred in Indonesia during the reporting period. Incidents are listed as they happened and dates are added if reported, other- wise the reader is to assume the event took place during the month in question. Readers are ad- vised that while there are security risks that companies and individuals need to be aware of, avoid or address, Indonesia is a country of over 230 million people living on 17,500 islands that stretch over 4,800 kms. The vast majority of foreign companies that operate in Indonesia, and expatriates who reside in or visit the country, do so without incident providing sensible security precautions are taken. ______________________________________________________________________ OVERVIEW The Police Counter Terrorist Unit Densus 88 continued the recent trend of arresting suspected terrorists. One suspected terrorist arrested in East Java was believed to be a member of the Santoso and Eka terrorist movement which was training in the mountains near Poso in Central Sulawesi and was planning bombings during the Presidential Elections on 9 July. A couple of days later Densus 88 arrested five suspected terrorists in Central Java and seized 15 rifles, two short barreled handguns, a crossbow and arrows, swords, throwing knives and a bomb blueprint. Earlier in the month a police officer discovered several homemade pipe bombs under a table in a traffic police post in Solo. Bomb squad officers attended the scene and took possession of the devices. In the last week of May a resident in Bogor in West Java found two active grenades and 27 rounds of ammunition in front of a food kiosk. The bomb squad attended and seized the items for further examination. In Aceh the home of the Lhokseumawe Sports and Youth Agency Chief was attacked by a Molotov cocktail. The house was unoccupied at the time and there were no Page 1 of 26 OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL JAKARTA COUNTRY COUNCIL AMCHAM SECURITY COMMITTEE, REPORT ON EVENTS IN MAY 2014 casualties. In Papua two police officers who were patrolling by motor cycle were shot at by a group of unidentified attackers. A shootout occurred resulting in the death of one of the police of- ficers. Whilst terrorist incidents make headlines, less well reported has been an increase in armed rob- beries during the month of May. No less than six victims were killed in thefts and many more were injured either from gunshot wounds or being stabbed by sharp weapons. In many of these cases the perpetrators were riding motor cycles and attacked lone motor cyclists in order to steal their machines. In one case in Bali a British female resident of a villa was beaten to death during a rob- bery at the villa. ANALYSIS OF DEMONSTRATION ACTIVITY The number of demonstrations in May continued the recent trend of lower than average number of demonstrations, although in May the number was slightly higher than in April. Approximately 50% of demonstrations were related to labour issues, and 15% related to election issues. Most labour related demonstrations occurred on Labour Day and they were mainly peaceful. Some intimidation was conducted against workers in factories that decided not to close for Labour Day. Page 2 of 26 OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL JAKARTA COUNTRY COUNCIL AMCHAM SECURITY COMMITTEE, REPORT ON EVENTS IN MAY 2014 TERRORISM & ORGANISED CRIME INCIDENTS Pipe Bombs Discovered in Solo, Central Java On Monday (May 12) at around 1115hrs a police officer discovered several homemade pipe bombs under a table in the Traffic Police Post 10, Kartasura Monument, Sukoharjo, Solo, Central Java. According to a witness, the devices were constructed from black iron pipe, wires, and a cell phone which was wrapped in black plastic. The Gegana Team (bomb squad) and police officers conducted checks at the site and interviewed witnesses. Suspected Terrorist Arrested in Paciran, Lamongan On Tuesday (May 13) at around 1230hrs a Detachment 88 Anti-Terror team arrested a man as a suspected terrorist in Kandangsemangkon, Paciran, Lamongan. The suspect was allegedly a member of the Santoso and Eka terrorist network which operated in Poso. This terrorist network was also known for bomb making training in the Poso Mountains, East Sulawesi and are planed suicide bombings during the upcoming Presidential Election in July. Five Suspected Terrorists Arrested in Trucuk, Central Java. On Thursday (May 15) the Detachment 88 Anti-Terror team arrested five people suspected of ter- rorist activities at a workshop in Trucuk, Klaten, Central Java. Officers seized fifteen 7mm rifles, two 7mm short-barreled weapons, one crossbow with arrows, swords, throwing knives and a bomb blueprint. Gunung Kidul Police which borders Klaten are intensifying investigation of this area. Grenades and Bullets Found in Bogor, West Java On Thursday (May 22) at around 0700hrs residents of Tanah Baru RT 4/RW 5, Bogor, West Java found two active grenades and seventeen bullets while sweeping in front of a food kiosk. Gegana Team (bomb squad) arrived after a few hours and secured the site. They confirmed that there were no other dangerous objects around the site. Molotov Throwing in Lhokseumawe, Aceh On Sunday (May 25) Lhokseumawe Sports and Youth Agency Chief's house in Hagu Teungoh, Banda Sakti, Lhokseumawe, Aceh was attacked by persons who threw Molotov at the house. A witness saw a man riding a motorbike near the house and then heard an explosion. There were no reports of casualties. The house owner was not in the house during the incident. CIVIL UNREST & POLITICAL VIOLENCE INCIDENTS Demonstration Turns to Riot in Kapasa Raya, Makassar On Thursday (May 1) International Labor Day, known as May Day celebration turned into riot in a Makassar Industrial Area (Kima). Around 100 labors from People's Solidarity Act for Indonesian Citizens (Samurai) tried to enter a bread factory which was still operating on May Day. They broke the guardrail and entered the factory on Jalan Kapasa Raya, Makassar. From this incident, people from Samurai clashed with Makassar police who attempted to prevent the Samurai holding a demonstration on Jalan Urip Sumojarjo-AP Pettarani and Reformasi Toll Road Entrance Gate. The laborers were forced to hold the demonstration in a park under a fly over. Riot in Sigi, Central Sulawesi On Monday (May 5) a riot occurred between residents and police in Karawana, Sigi, Central Sula- wesi. The riot started when enraged residents protested the police dismissal of a music festival at a wedding. Police tried to dismiss the residents by using tear gas. However, the tear gas made the Page 3 of 26 OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL JAKARTA COUNTRY COUNCIL AMCHAM SECURITY COMMITTEE, REPORT ON EVENTS IN MAY 2014 residents even angrier and they chased the police. The police fled, abandoning their motorbikes. The residents then burned nine motorbikes belonging to the police. Demonstration at Jakarta International School, South Jakarta On Monday (May 5) numerous college students from Universitas Indonesia Student Act Front (FAM UI) held a demonstration in front of the Jakarta International School (JIS) gate. They vented their frustrations by burning USA and UK miniature flags. According to them, the two countries were protecting JIS. In addition, dozens of students also pushed the police to block the main road in front of JIS. They were not allowed to meet JIS representatives to express their concerns. Clash in Binjai, North Sumatra On Wednesday (May 7) a group of men in Work Men League (IPK) uniform assaulted men in a youth militia uniform linked to the Pemuda Pancasila, who gathered in a shack at the center of home store complex project in Pekan Binjai, Kota Binjai, North Sumatra. The two groups attacked each other using arrows; as a result several cars were damaged and two people injured. Police arrested a few people to be investigated. Clash in Institute of Vocational Education (LPK) Building Central Jakarta On Wednesday (May 14) at around 0950hrs a building eviction at the Institute of Vocational Edu- cation (LPK) Building area on Jl AM Sangaji No 6, Gambir, Central Jakarta turned into a clash. Students and residents who refused to be expelled from the building were involved in pushing and a conflict with Satpol PP because they disagreed with the eviction. Officers diverted traffic by road closure on Jl. AM Sangaji because of this clash. Clash in Boyolali, Central Java On Saturday (May 17) hundreds of people from several districts in Juwangi assaulted people from Kalitlawah, Ngaren, Juwangi, Boyolali, Central Java. According to a witness, the clash was trig- gered by a prior clash between the groups which resulted in the death of one Kalimati resident. They also assaulted the police with rocks and wood. The assailants were pushed back after police fired warning shots and tear gas. The site was secured by police who continued patrolling to pre- vent subsequent clashes. Clash in Buaran Station, East Jakarta On Sunday (May 18) at around 0400hrs about a hundred Cakung residents were involved in a clash in Buaran Station, East Jakarta. They carried sharp weapons such as samurai swords, a cleaver and also firecrackers. According to the residents, clashes of this type occur almost every weekend in Buaran Station. Security of the area was restored after one hour. There were no casu- alties in this incident.