Police say no arson in Sahid Jaya fire<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fire damaged the facade of the main building of
\nthe five-star Sahid Jaya Hotel on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Central
\nJakarta, on Monday evening.<\/p>\n
No casualties were reported but many guests and hotel
\nemployees scattered in panic.<\/p>\n
The fire started at about 5:55 p.m. when part of the hotel's
\nneon name plate on the roof ignited, a witness said.<\/p>\n
Hotel employee Jasari said part of the burning neon sign fell
\nto outside part of the third floor, burning cables and spreading
\nto the 21st floor.<\/p>\n
\"But it only burned the outside part of the hotel building,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said there
\nwas no sign of foul play.<\/p>\n
\"The fire was caused by a short circuit. There is no sign that
\nit was intentionally set on fire,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
Suspicion of arson was fanned because one of the meeting rooms
\nat the hotel, owned by businessman Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono,
\nwas used by a group of 17 political activists and public figures
\nwho issued \"a joint communique\" last Thursday.<\/p>\n
It called for the establishment of a Provisional People's
\nConsultative Assembly and, eventually, a presidium which would
\nserve as a provisional government.<\/p>\n
Most participants have been summoned by police for questioning
\non suspicion of subversion.<\/p>\n
A receptionist at the hotel confirmed that the hotel received
\nscores of unidentified telephone calls on Monday evening warning
\nthe building would be set on fire.<\/p>\n
Businessman Meilono Suwondo, a signatory to the communique who
\nhas been questioned, told Antara on Sunday night that the fire
\nmay have been the work of a particular group trying to intimidate
\nthe hotel's management for accommodating political activities.<\/p>\n
The hotel's resident manager, Victor Sitompul, said the damage
\nwas still being calculated.<\/p>\n
\"Although there were no casualties, we have to keep our guests
\ncomfortable. Guest occupancy was only 20 percent of 677 rooms
\navailable here,\" he was quoted as saying by the news agency on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta Fire Department, using 12 fire engines,
\nextinguished the fire in about 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
Police arrested two men for stealing electronic goods from the
\nhotel during the fire. (jun\/ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-say-no-arson-in-sahid-jaya-fire-1447893297",
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