VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. National Police’s anti-terror squad Densus 88 is investigating the alleged links between four suspected terrorists arrested on Monday and the suicide bombing in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Sunday.

The four suspects were picked up from Bekasi, West Java and Condet, East Jakarta. So far, investigators have found no evidence linking them with the suicide bombing, chief of the public relations section of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Yusri Yunus, informed here on Tuesday.

"Everybody has asked if there is a link with the bombing attack outside the Cathedral Church in Makassar. Up till now no link has been found," he said.

Based on the result of investigation, the two groups worked separately, he added.

However, Densus 88 will continue to probe the alleged links between the two terrorist groups, he said.

"Based on the information, the two groups worked separately. However, (we will) continue to investigate it since many pieces of evidence have been found," he added.

Densus 88 had on Monday apprehended four suspected terrorists — three from Bekasi, West Java, and one from Jakarta.

The arrests came a day after a suicide bombing outside a church left two people dead and 20 others injured. The two people killed in the attack are believed to be a married couple, said police.

A total of 13 suspected terrorists have been arrested in four provinces following the suicide bombing.

National Police chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo told the press on Monday that the 13 suspected terrorists were arrested in Makassar (South Sulawesi), West Nusa Tenggara, Jakarta, and Bekasi (West Java).  (Antaranews)

Jakarta. National Police's anti-terror squad Densus 88 has arrested three women who are believed to have links with the perpetrators of the suicide bombing attack outside the Cathedral Church in Makassar, South Sulawesi on Sunday.

"Following the suicide bombing in Makassar, the number of suspects has increased by three. They are all women," chief of the public information section of National Police’s public relations division, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Ramadhan, informed in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The three women, identified by their initials as MM, M, and MAN, had links with the married couple — identified as L and YSF or D — suspected of being the perpetrators of the suicide bombing, Ramadhan said.

MM, who was arrested a few days before the bombing, allegedly knew the exact plan for the suicide bombing and motivated the married couple to execute it, he informed.

MM also gave jihad (holy war) and sahid (martyr) motivations to the couple, he said.

M is the sister-in-law of SAS, who was arrested on Monday in a separate operation. SAS allegedly had knowledge of the activities of the study group at Villa Mutiara, he added.

The third suspect, MAN, allegedly saw L riding a motorcycle to the scene of the suicide bombing and also attended the study group with SAS, he informed.

Ramadhan said seven suspected terrorists from the Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) network have been arrested since the suicide bombing attack.

Earlier on Monday, Densus had arrested four suspected terrorists, identified as AS, SAS, MR, and AN or AA. (Antaranews)

Jakarta. Japan and Indonesia pledged on Tuesday to tighten security ties and signed a deal to facilitate transfers of defence equipment and technology, as their near neighbour China expands its economic and military might.

China’s territorial claims in the East and South China seas have become a priority issue in an increasingly testy Sino-U.S. relationship and also raise significant security concerns for Japan.

“I think this is (a) historical first in bilateral relations between Japan and Indonesia,” Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto said, referring to the transfer pact.

“We invite the Japanese side to participate in the modernization of Indonesia’s defence capacity. We also encourage joint training between our services - maritime and also land forces,” he told reporters.

Prabowo made the comment at a joint media appearance in Tokyo following a meeting of the Japanese and Indonesian foreign and defence ministers.

“We exchanged views on the situation in the East and South China seas and shared serious concern about the continuation and strengthening of unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force,” Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said.

The meeting followed a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who warned China over “coercion and aggression” and criticised what he called Chinese attempts to bully neighbours with competing interests.

ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members, which include Indonesia, remain wary of losing access to China’s economy, and are reluctant to become entangled in any confrontation between Washington and Beijing.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also sharply criticized ongoing violence against civilians in Myanmar following its Feb. 1 military coup. “Indonesia strongly denounces this kind of act. It is unacceptable,” she said.

Retno has emerged as a voice for the region as she works to broker talks with the Myanmar military, which has killed more than 500 protesters since staging the coup.

Japan, which has extensive business interests in Myanmar, has so far refrained from meting out sanctions against the military leadership.

But Motegi told parliament on Tuesday that Tokyo, which had been the largest provider of economic assistance to Myanmar, had put its official development assistance on hold. (Reuters)

Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, has assured the government will not interfere in the election of the chief of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for 2021-2026.

Pandjaitan made the assurance during a meeting with several members of Kadin's central and regional executive boards, Kadin deputy chairman Anindya Bakrie informed in a press statement released on Tuesday.

Bakrie had accompanied members of the Kadin provincial executive board for a dialog with Pandjaitan, held at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment in Jakarta on Monday (March 29, 2021).

During the meeting, Pandjaitan stressed that the government will not side with any candidate vying for the post of Kadin chief. Instead, it supports Kadin’s efforts to become a dignified institution, he said.

"Choose, with conscience, who is the best to lead Kadin in the future. Pay attention to the track record to make the best choice,” Anindya Bakrie quoted Pandjaitan as saying at the meeting.

Pandjaitan further appealed to Kadin to focus on empowering regions and micro, small, and medium businesses, and said the government is ready to cooperate with Kadin in a closer and more effective way.

Anindya Novyan Bakrie has decided to file his nomination for the post of Kadin chief for the 2021-2026 term in place of Rosan Roeslani, who has been appointed Indonesian Ambassador to the United States. (Antaranews)