Schoolboy showered with rewards for his courage<\/p>\n
By Ahmad Junaidi<\/p>\n
BEKASI (JP): Attired in his school uniform, Ahmad Taufik was
\nawarded on Wednesday for reporting his discovery of three live
\ngrenades on a railway track near his house in Karangsari village,
\nKedung Waringin district here on Monday.<\/p>\n
The 15-year-old Taufik received a scholarship to complete his
\nthree-year high school education from the Bekasi Police chief
\nAdj. High Comr. Idrus Gassing. A savings account was also opened
\nin his name with a deposit of Rp 1 million (US$105) by the
\ndistrict head, Oman Rohman.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by his parents, Emis, 65, and Manah, 59, Taufik
\nwas applauded like a hero in a ceremony at the Kedung Waringin
\npolice subprecinct, which also featured a local marching band.<\/p>\n
Besides the gifts from the local authorities, Taufik is
\nscheduled to receive a reward from Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri on Sunday, Idrus said.<\/p>\n
\"The rewards are for his courage and quick decision to report
\nhis discovery to the authorities,\" the police chief told
\nreporters after the ceremony.<\/p>\n
The National Boy Scout Movement Pramuka will also reward
\nTaufik who is a Pramuka member in his school, State SLTP I Bekasi
\njunior high school.<\/p>\n
Two officials from the state-owned railway company PT KAI
\nvisited Taufik's house on Jl. Citarik Raya to inform him that he
\nwould receive a reward from Minister of Communication and
\nTransportation Agum Gumelar on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The officials also asked for Taufik's clothes and shoes sizes
\nand those of his parents, as they needed to be tailored for the
\nceremony at the Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The ceremony will also officially mark the end of the Idul
\nFitri transportation services.<\/p>\n
Idrus said the police would continue to provide protection to
\nTaufik and his family as the boy had spotted a scavenger behaving
\nsuspiciously.<\/p>\n
The scavenger was present at the location when Taufik found
\ntwo British-made and a Korean-made grenades, but left the area
\nafter the herder reported the explosive devices.<\/p>\n
City Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said on Tuesday
\nthe grenades were \"commonly used by military\", although he
\nrefused to speculate that certain members of the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) were involved.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the City Military Command Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi,
\nhowever, insisted that it was unlikely that TNI personnel placed
\nthe grenades.<\/p>\n
Taufik had taken his three cows to graze along the railway
\ntrack, about 100 meters behind his house, after school on Monday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
He was shocked to find that one of the cows had been treading
\non wires which were connected to two grenades placed in the
\nmiddle of the railway track. The track is used for trains from
\nJakarta heading to cities outside the capital.<\/p>\n
When he traced the wires, he found a third grenade under the
\ntrack.<\/p>\n
Taufik then ran to a nearby railway crossing post and told the
\nduty officer Didin about his discovery before collapsing. Taufik
\nwas then rushed to the nearby Asih Hospital.<\/p>\n
\"I knew they were grenades because I have seen them on TV,\"
\nTaufik said after the ceremony at the police subprecinct.<\/p>\n
\"The grenades could have killed my cows as the police said the
\ngrenades were close to exploding,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The railway company had to delay trains to and from the city
\nfor almost three hours on Monday to allow the bomb squad to
\ndefuse the grenades.<\/p>\n
The findings followed a series of bomb attacks which rocked
\nthe country on the Christmas eve. At least 19 people were killed
\nin the bombings.<\/p>\n
Taufik's father, Emis, confirmed that his son was still afraid
\nand confused over the discovery.<\/p>\n
\"Since the finding, many people have come here, including
\nofficials and journalists. So, we've decided to move Taufik to
\nhis uncle's house,\" said the father of four.<\/p>\n
Emis, who also has nine grandchildren, said Taufik stayed
\novernight at the police subprecinct before moving to his uncle's
\nhouse.<\/p>\n
Taufik said that he would use the reward money to support his
\neducation.<\/p>\n
\"I want to become an aviation engineer,\" he told The Jakarta
\nPost over the phone from the police subprecinct.<\/p>",
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